JOB DESCRIPTION

Result of Service

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. The Chemicals and Health Branch of the Industry and Economy Division leads UNEP”s sub-programme on Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality. UNEP’s programme of work centers around assistance to countries and multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) secretariats to assist in technical-scientific issues related to priority chemicals and implementation of the United Nations Environment Assembly and Governing Council resolutions. The Knowledge and Risk Unit of the Chemicals and Health Branch promotes scientific approaches and knowledge for the sound management of chemicals including through implementation of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolutions and Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects. The Knowledge and Risk Unit gathers, compiles and analyses state of the art information and data, including through monitoring activities, inventories and assessments, to allow policymakers to make informed decisions on the sound management of chemicals and waste. The Knowledge and Risk Unit is also providing technical assistance to the execution of the GEF funded project “Disposal of PCB oils contained in transformers and disposal of capacitors containing PCB in Southern Africa” (GEF ID 5532).

Work Location

Home-based / Working remotely

Expected duration

20 days of work within a 3-month period.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Officer-in-Charge, Knowledge and Risk Unit, Chemicals and Health Branch, Industry and Economy Division, and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, Knowledge and Risk Unit, Chemicals and Health Branch, the Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conduct literature review on human rights related to PCB, including existing studies, assessments, scientific research, tools, and case studies featuring human rights and sound management of chemicals.
• Conduct a survey with targeted stakeholders and vulnerable groups involved in misuse of and exposure to PCB oils in 12 Southern African countries and benchmark where human rights are intervened with fundamental legislation/regulations in regards of PCBs.
• Compare with UN human rights indicators and SDGs, review the reports of human rights in the chemicals and waste sector.
• Review national and international legislations and regulations including those authorized by governments, parliaments, judiciary and other administrative institutes on PCB to identify areas where attention and actions are needed to ensure human rights are appropriately protected.
• Identify human rights-based approaches and progress indicators in support of the development and implementation of PCB phase-out plan at national level.
• Establishment of a baseline to track changes and impacts of the activities implemented by the project.
• Identify key elements on human rights to implement and enforce the legislations and other legal frameworks including via the PCB phase-our plan.
• Coordinate as needed with relevant project implementing partners and draft a human rights guidance to incorporate human rights dimensions in the development of national legal and institutional framework such as regulations and legislations.
• Revise the draft in consultation with project partners and accommodate the feedbacks provided to finalize the human rights guidance.
• Deliver a training to national stakeholders to present the human rights guidance.
• Support seeking approval for the guidance on human rights from the UNEP publication committee.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a field related to human rights, sociology, anthropology, environmental studies, social and natural sciences, economics or similar is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 5 years practical experience in the field of human rights and equality is required. Experience providing advice on human rights integration and mainstreaming into policies, strategies and action plans is required. Experience in supporting the integration of human rights-based approaches into policy and decision making at the national level is desired. Experience with conducting desk research in the environmental and socio-economic science domain is desirable. Experience working in the context of International Organizations, particularly United Nations is desirable. Special skills/knowledge: Demonstrated expertise in incorporating human rights-based approaches in strategies and action plans, especially in the chemicals and waste area. Thorough understanding of human rights context at national and global level. Familiarity with human rights analysis tools and methodologies and their application in the chemicals and waste area. Knowledge of human rights issues and ability to identify related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems, including ability to identify sources for data collection, analyze information and draft reports. Demonstrated skills in training civil authorities and members of advocacy groups to recognize warning signs of civil unrest and take preventive action to avert hostilities. Show pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Languages

English is the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written in French 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.