Result of Service

Strengthening of Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Bolivia in the preparation of national inventories of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and the formulation of an action plan for the collection, transport and disposal of such substances, including consideration of recycling, reclamation and cost-effective destruction in accordance with ExCom Decision 9166.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Law Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The Montreal Protocol has been effectively regulating the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) since 1989. The Kigali Amendment added hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the list of controlled substances. Large banks of used and unwanted controlled substances have been accumulated globally, which are continuously being released to the atmosphere from these banks. These emissions are damaging the ozone layer and contributing to global warming. Banks of controlled substances are not regulated under the Montreal Protocol. Collection, recovery, and cost-effective disposal (recycling, reclaiming, destruction) of used or unwanted controlled substances represent a challenge for developing countries. Based on the above, the Montreal Protocol proposed a funding window for an inventory of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and a plan for the collection, transport, and disposal of such substances contained in ExCom/91/66, through which countries could access resources to prepare a national inventory including policies and regulations that exist in the country related to ODS and the management other controlled substances, linking the national phase-out plans that the country is undertaking. Likewise, it should consider the desk study of already available data from national surveys on consumption of HCFCs undertaken in the preparation of HPMPs, ODS alternatives surveys, equipment importers, recovery and recycling activities from waste management operators, and collection, dismantling and recovery of the waste refrigerants and other substances from end-of-life equipment should be undertaken. Considering the above, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Bolivia, submitted for the consideration by the Executive Committee at its 93rd meeting the proposals to carry out a national inventory of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and resulting action and business plans for 2024-2026 period, which were approved at that meeting. Therefore, the corresponding National Ozone Units (NOUs) have requested UNEP to engage an international consultant to provide technical support for the implementation and monitoring of the activities described, and as per the approved project proposals for each country. Specific tasks and responsibilities The consultant should inter alia deliver the following actions: -Conduct a regional workshop for sharing experience on sustainable model for the correct management of unwanted banks and RAC appliances with LA countries. -Develop a legal assessment on the regulations for collection, storage, transportation, and destruction of MP controlled unwanted substances banks and the inventory of existing unwanted ODS and F-gases banks and estimation of potential and future banks based on installed capacity of RAC appliances by sector in Honduras. -Develop a regulatory assessment to identify needs to control unwanted ODS & HFC banks, the identification and inventory of unwanted ODS & HFC banks, and the design of the sustainable model for the correct management of unwanted banks and EOL (end-of-life) RAC appliances in Bolivia. -Monitor and follow-up to the preparation of the national inventory of banks of waste-controlled substances and development of a national plan for management of these substances in Costa Rica. -Develop a legal assessment on the regulations for collection, storage, transportation, and destruction of MP controlled unwanted substances banks, and the national inventory of unwanted ODS and HFC in Guatemala. -Develop a legal assessment on the regulations for collection, storage, transportation, and destruction of MP controlled unwanted substances banks, the identification and inventory of unwanted ODS & HFC banks, the formulation of the action plan for the sound handling of unwanted MP controlled substances including collection, transport, and disposal of such substances and considering stakeholder comments in the Dominican Republic. -Provide guidance to the NOUs in preparing reports according to formats established. -Provide guidance to National Consultants hired directly by UNEP or the NOU office.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s or equivalent degree in mechanical, chemical engineering, environmental sciences, laws or economy, or related area. least seven (7) years of experience in project/programme implementation linked to information outreach, knowledge management or project management support and proven experience in working under the Logical Framework Approach, waste management, waste disposal/destruction, or other aspects of life cycle refrigerant management (e.g. recovery and recycling) in developing countries. Experience in the implementation of Montreal Protocol project. Highly desirable Experience in working with government officers in developing countries. Highly desirable Previous work experience in the United Nations system and knowledge on the phaseout of ozone depleting chemicals and Montreal Protocol-related matters will be an asset. Experience in providing advice, consultancy, and technical assistance in projects applying cleaner production policies, circular economy and sustainability concepts and developing business plans or models will be an asset.

Languages

English and Spanish are among the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the services requiered, fluency in Spanish is requiered. Knowlege of another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.