Result of Service
To assist, with high-level technical expertise, input and coordination, in the execution of selected national project activities under the GEF CReW+ Project in Panama, Costa Rica and Cuba in close coordination with the national Governments and/or other projects and partner executing agencies. This includes expert assistance in developing the products and achieving the outcomes for: policy reviews, methodological design of activities, management advice involving project team and stakeholders/ beneficiaries, reviews and recommendations on interim and final project outputs, and the design and execution of capacity-building and communication activities and outputs (facilitation, curriculum development, technical content etc.).
Work Location
Home-based
Expected duration
Eight (8) months.
Duties and Responsibilities
Organisational 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. 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.
UN Environment Programme’s Ecosystems 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 UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, within the framework of the Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol, is seeking a Consultant to support the overall implementation of the GEF CReW+ Project by coordinating joint activities with other relevant ongoing wastewater management projects and activities being implemented by the Secretariat and providing specialized technical support for the GEF CReW+ Project. The CReW+ Project and related projects and activities by the Secretariat will support institutional, policy and legal reforms relating to water and wastewater management, the development of new policies, strategies, legislation and/or regulations and the design and implementation of pilot/local water and wastewater management solutions in selected countries in the Wider Caribbean region. These national projects focus on innovations in integrated water and wastewater management and ensuring the appropriate enabling environment is established for implementation of national pollution reduction plans, and the adoption of nature-based solutions and management systems that will maximize social, economic, environmental and climate benefits and longer-term sustainability.
This consultancy post is in the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager for the Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution Sub-Programme.
The Water and Wastewater Management Consultant will compile relevant policy and technical information to define Component 3 national-level project activities in selected CReW+ countries, provide technical support for the implementation of complementary projects and activities for wastewater management and support the planning and organization of webinars as part of the CReW+ Academy.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, to:
1. Facilitate the preparation, jointly with the national partners, of three pilot demonstration projects as defined under the national packages for: a) Costa Rica – an integrated water-sanitation solution for the Asada Rio Blanco, a community with projected 50 households in 2025 that requires adequate wastewater solutions; b) Panama – an integrated water and sanitation solution for the new Community Nuevo Carti, with 300 Guna Yala families mostly relocated inland from the climate-threatened island Carti Sugdupu, and which needs innovative integrated housing-water-wastewater solutions to achieve sustainability objectives; and c) Cuba – an integrated solution to improve the environmental conditions of the community of Rodas, as well as the sustainability of the sewerage system, including the full restauration of the system by rehabilitating the facility;
2. Provide technical support and expert advice to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat for the preparation of demonstration projects in the GEF CReW+ English-Speaking Caribbean small islands for which the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of national projects under Component 3;
3. Design and coordinate training sessions and communication outputs (web-based, online) including in support of webinars as part of the CReW+ Academy. The consultant will assist, based on the programming of training/communication activities, with the design and execution of web-based capacity-building courses, webinars, and stakeholder sessions in coordination with the Communications Team of the GEF CReW+ Project and that of the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat;
4. Support activities of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat related to wastewater management projects and activities, providing technical inputs for the:
a) Development/ Update of national legislation and/or regulations on wastewater effluent discharges in the 6 participating Contracting Parties to the LBS Protocol (or a selection of them), in compliance with the Cartagena Convention – Annex III, thus assisting them in complying with their targets under the Protocol, as well as those under SDG-6 on Water and Sanitation;
b) Implementation of innovative decentralized, rural community-based interventions for wastewater management in 4 Contracting Parties (or a selection of them) which involve working with Civil Society/NGOs and partnerships with larger GEF-funded Projects on wastewater. The focus will be on nature-based solutions and use of wastewater as a resource, and the consultant will provide inputs for the development of a set of criteria and guidelines for project selection and evaluation developed by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat.
Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications: A Master’s degree in the field of environmental planning, engineering (water and sanitation), environmental engineering, water resource management/policy, or equivalent. A Doctorate in one of these subject areas would be an asset.
Experience: At least 25 years of relevant experience in Latin America and the Caribbean in the water and sanitation, environmental sustainability or climate change mitigation and adaptation sectors.
Specific work experience in one or more of the following fields: i) water resources planning, regulation, and/or management, with focus on municipal water supply or urban drainage and flood control; ii) design, costs estimation, construction, rehabilitation, operation, and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment facilities; iii) Technological innovations that contribute to water security, restoration of land/water ecosystems and responses to climate change challenges would be an asset.
Language: English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, proficiency in oral and written English and Spanish is required.
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.
