National Expert on ODS and POPs

Minsk

Organization: UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Location: Minsk
Grade: Volunteer - National Specialist - Locally recruited Volunteer
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Environment
- Climate Change
Closing Date: 2024-02-01

Requisition ID: 3303
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)
Country: Belarus
Duty Station: Minsk
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal/External
Employment Type: Non-staff WAE
Contract Duration: 12 months (exact number of working days yet to be determined)
Application deadline: 01-Feb-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Montreal Protocol Unit (TCS/CEP/MPU) is responsible for planning, developing and implementing activities in Member States to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, it's Kigali Amendment and to support countries to achieve their determined contributions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases under the Paris Agreement. Making use of the capacity building and policy support, the services of the Unit foster transformation in manufacturing concerning technologies used in refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation with the effect of a reduction and change in working fluids and chemicals and ultimately a reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The National Expert will carry out the activities as set out below, related to the implementation of the Regional Demonstration Project for Coordinated Management of ODS and POPs Disposal in Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia (SAP ID 150105). The project has been requested by the governments of these countries to support their ongoing efforts and international obligations to deal with ozone depleting substances (ODS) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and supported GEF funds. The project will enable environmentally sound collection and destruction of targeted POPs and ODS through the creation of three (in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine) mutually independent but linked ODS/POPs co‐destruction centers. In Belarus, the project will provide for an incinerator with a capacity of about 2,000 MT of waste per year.

Thus, this demonstration project should assist the countries involved in meeting their obligations under the Stockholm Convention and the Montreal Protocol and establish local capacities for destruction of ODS and some POPs substances. Through the demonstration activities the project aims to destroy a minimum of 11,700 MT of PCB/ODS containing waste and 4.14 MMT of CO2-eq. It will introduce regulatory reforms in participating countries and strengthen national capacity in identifying, assessing, managing, and treating such wastes in an environmentally sustainable manner. It will also maximize opportunities for public-private partnership through development of appropriate policies and regulations.

The project is being implemented at the country level, in cooperation with the Government focal points in each country, namely the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection of Ukraine, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Natural Protection of the Republic of Armenia.

Under this project, three independent but linked ODS/POPs co‐destruction centres will be created - one in each of the three countries[1] - as listed below:

Belarus :

1 x ODS/POPs co‐destruction centre (National POPS/ODS Disposal Facility)

Kazakhstan:

1 x Plasma ODS/POPs co‐destruction centre

1 x Recycling centre for recovery of ODS refrigerants and foam blowing agents

Ukraine:

1 x Plasma ODS/POPs co‐destruction centre

1 x Recycling centre for recovery of ODS refrigerants and foam blowing agents

In Belarus, the project provides for an incinerator with a capacity of no less than 1,600 ton of waste per year. The Beneficiary of the ODS/POPs co-destruction center in Belarus is CUE “Complex for Processing and Disposal of Toxic Wastes of the Gomel Region” (Gomel Oblast, Chechersk Rayon). The supplier of the equipment is the Sosnovoborsky Machine-Building Plant LLC (Russian Federation), which supplied equipment for the thermal processing of the ODS/POPs hazardous waste (hereafter referred to as “the installed Equipment”) and installed it at the Beneficiary's site.

The scope of this ToR relates to the support of provision of commissioning services to complete the comprehensive testing of the Equipment and enable the start-up of the national POPs and ODS destruction facility in Belarus.

MAIN FUNCTIONS

The National Expert will work under the supervision of the International Project Coordinator and the National Project Coordinator in Belarus assigned by UNIDO for the project, in cooperation with the Beneficiary and the national executing partner – the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus (hereafter -MNREP), and the Contractor for the commissioning services to complete the comprehensive testing of the Equipment. His/her duties shall be performed in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of UNIDO and these terms of reference.

MAIN DUTIES

The National Expert is expected to carry out the following services:

1. Assessment of the capacity and internal structure of the Beneficiary to ensure the effective operation of the national ODS/POPs co-disposal facility in the short and long term. Prepare recommendations for the development of an action plan for its strategic and long-term development.

2. Provide expert support to the Project Team, the Contractor for the commissioning services to complete the comprehensive testing of the Equipment and the Beneficiary for the commissioning of the national ODS/POPs co-disposal facility and throughout the first year of the facility’s operation, to ensure compliance with environmental requirements and the achievement of the disposal objectives of the Project.

3. Develop the draft National Waste Management Strategy, on the basis of a comprehensive needs assessment and analysis of the required legislation, capacity building and financing for the management and destruction of ODS and POPs in the Republic of Belarus.

4. Through consultations with the MNREP, other ministries and state agencies, project beneficiaries and stakeholders, determine the institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks required for the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy.

5. Develop the draft National Action Plan (Road Map) for implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy.

6. Develop the recommendations and proposals for the new ODS and POPs related project, taking into account the project results.

7. Provide technical inputs and guidance to the Project Management Team for the timely implementation of the project activities.

8. Provide technical and narrative inputs for the preparation of project related reports.

9. Other duties related to the project, if requested by UNIDO staff.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION:

Advanced university degree in engineering, ecology, chemistry or natural sciences, or in a closely related field, is required.

UNIDO LANGUAGES:

Fluency in written and oral English and Russian is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of another official UN language, is desirable.

FIELD OF EXPERTISE:

A minimum of seven (7) years of working experience in environmental protection, waste management and chemical waste destruction is required, preferably within a multicultural environment, including experience in project administration and execution, is required.
Experience with or knowledge of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, including thorough understanding of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, is desirable.
Experience with or knowledge of Global Environment Facility (GEF) programmes/project cycles is desirable.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

[1] Armenia has decided not to host any PCBs treatment facilities at present.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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