Result of Service

The ultimate results of services provided by the consultant will be: ● Hold weekly calls with planetGOLD Programme Lead Programme Management Officer. ● Hold monthly calls with the project executing agencies (fortnightly for projects at risk). ● Obtain, review and clear quarterly project progress and financial reports and prepare quarterly reports including outbound reports and updating IPMR and other internal reporting requirements. ● Facilitate the organization of Project Coordination Group meetings of Mid-size projects and Steering Committee meetings for the Full-Size Projects. ● Review and approve yearly workplan, budget forecast, procurement plan and communication plan. ● Process extension of Project Cooperation Agreements and other legal agreements with partners as required. ● Facilitate Project Implementation Report (PIR) process for the Mid-size and Full-Size Projects. ● Assist planetGOLD Programme Lead in the oversight of programme as requested. ● Develop and submit Project Identification Form (PIF) package and subsequent Project Preparatory phase for Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects ● Develop and submit Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) and National Action Plans (NAP) on ASGM projects as requested, ● Conduct Terminal Review of Enabling Activities, ● Support closure of enabling activities. ● Support integration of projects among C&W and other GEF focal areas. ● Work with team members on the development of new concepts as assigned in the work plan.

Work Location

Home-Based

Expected duration

12 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organization Setting: 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 overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities, and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals, and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities. GEF–The GEF Unit of the Chemicals and Health Branch is responsible for the development and management of all GEF projects implemented by UNEP in the Chemicals and Wastes focal area. To date, the team has a portfolio of 100 projects represented over $200 mil of GEF investment supporting countries in their implementation of the Stockholm Convention, the Minamata Convention and SAICM. The GEF helps developing countries and those with economies in transition to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures designed to achieve global environmental benefits in six focal areas: biological diversity, climate change, international waters, ozone layer depletion, land degradation and chemicals and waste. An important component of almost all UNEP’s GEF projects is building capacity to manage the environment in a sound manner. The Chemicals and Health Branch plays a key role in supporting countries to implement, develop and execute chemicals related GEF projects that fit within its comparative advantage. UNEP’s comparative advantage within the GEF has been defined as: • Scientific assessments, monitoring, early warning; • Linking science to policy (Capacity Building, Enabling Activities) at national, regional and global levels; • Innovation, technology transfer and lifting barriers; • Regional and global cooperation; • Awareness raising, advocacy, and knowledge management. As part of its duties, the GEF Chemicals and Waste Unit oversees supervising a portfolio of ongoing projects, develop new projects to be submitted to the GEF and assist countries to close finished projects. The Chemicals team also provides coaching and advice to UNEP colleagues in the branch and in other divisions. The GEF C&W Unit has been successful in developing a series of projects which now require the completion of the package for GEF CEO endorsement. Supervision of the development of these proposals has been assigned across the GEF team but the volume of work to be undertaken requires additional inputs from a specialist consultant with experience in drafting and managing GEF proposals. The development of the submissions is time sensitive, and the workload requires the facilitation to be available as early as possible. The supervision requires regular (monthly) calls with the executing agencies to ensure the project’s implementation is according to plans. The ultimate result of services is to ensure that projects are implemented in a timely manner and the scope of this assignment will be: ● Hold weekly calls with planetGOLD Programme Lead Programme Management Officer. ● Hold monthly calls with the project executing agencies (fortnightly for projects at risk). ● Obtain, review and clear quarterly project progress and financial reports and prepare quarterly reports including outbound reports and updating IPMR and other internal reporting requirements. ● Facilitate the organization of Project Coordination Group meetings of Mid-size projects and Steering Committee meetings for the Full-Size Projects. ● Review and approve yearly workplan, budget forecast, procurement plan and communication plan. ● Process extension of Project Cooperation Agreements and other legal agreements with partners as required. ● Facilitate Project Implementation Report (PIR) process for the Mid-size and Full-Size Projects. ● Assist planetGOLD Programme Lead in the oversight of programme as requested. ● Develop and submit Project Identification Form (PIF) package and subsequent Project Preparatory phase for Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects ● Develop and submit Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) and National Action Plans (NAP) on ASGM projects as requested, ● Conduct Terminal Review of Enabling Activities, ● Support closure of enabling activities. ● Support integration of projects among C&W and other GEF focal areas. ● Work with team members on the development of new concepts as assigned in the work plan. A detailed workplan will be developed at the commencement of service. The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Senior Task Manager of the GEF Chemicals and Waste Unit. The incumbent will prepare a workplan for the duration of the contract at the commencement of service. Each quarter, in order to account for adjustment of priorities, the workplan will be reviewed with the Portfolio Manager.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in a field related to Social or Environmental Sciences (Biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, social science, environmental studies, environmental engineering), or equivalent experience is required. A first level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree is required.

Languages

Fluency in English and Spanish, including good drafting/writing skills is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

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.