Wastewater Expert

Result of Service

The objective is primarily supporting the work of the Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit, specifically providing outstanding support to the inception phase and kick off of these two initiatives and to support additional resource mobilization efforts of the SSPU.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

3 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 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. Land-based pollution has been widely recognized to impact the health of aquatic ecosystems, including coastal and marine ones. Over time, population growth has led to increasing demand for water, food, and consumable goods. The rising number of anthropogenic activities and the intensification of productive sectors demanding growth in substance production and use has resulted in augmented pollution from point and non-point sources. In many areas of the world, waterways and coastal areas are still being used as dumping grounds to avoid costs for treatment and disposal. Also, extreme weather events and climate change pose additional stress on ecosystems and natural resources. Climate-induced natural disasters (e.g., floods) increase the risks of spillage of pollutants with major consequences on human health and ecosystems. Wastewater pollution has been widely recognized to impact the health of aquatic ecosystems, including coastal and marine ones. Over time, population growth has led to an increasing demand for water, food, and consumable goods. The rising number of anthropogenic activities and the intensification of productive sectors demanding growth in substance production and use has resulted in augmented pollution from point and non-point sources. In many areas of the world, waterways and coastal areas are still being used as dumping ground to avoid costs for treatment and disposal. Also, extreme weather events and climate change pose additional stress on ecosystems and natural resources. Climate-induced natural disasters (e.g., floods) increase the risks of spillage of pollutants with major consequences on human health and ecosystems. UNEP’s Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit plays a crucial role in identifying and acting on the challenge of land-based pollution. The Unit focuses on issues including wastewater and its activities serve to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 6 and 14. They also contribute to UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy 2022-2025, and as well as to the implementation of UNEP’s Chemicals and Pollutions Action sub-programme. The work of the Unit also contribute to the implementation of numerous United Nations Environment Assembly’s (UNEA) resolutions, including for example “Addressing water pollution to protect and restore water-related ecosystems” (UNEP/EA.3/10), “Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities” (UNEP/EA.4/11). To counter the challenges posed by land-based pollution, the Unit is implementing the project titled “Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Pollution through Strengthened Coordination of Global Action.” The project, with a duration of five years, aims to strengthen responses to land-based pollution, enhance co-operation and foster action to tackle the issues related to wastewater pollution, nutrient management, and marine litter. A new project entitled “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”, which will follow project 522.4 “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”, will start soon. Under this project two resource mobilization initiatives put forward by the SSPU were successfully attained: i) “Strategies, capacity and data for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa” duration of 36 months -EC DG HERA; ii) “Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia” duration of 18 months - UN SDG Malaysia Trust Fund. Additional resources need to be mobilized to full implementation of the new project. A Project Management Officer, P-3 will be hired to implement these projects and support mobilization of additional resources. Nevertheless, the selection process is taking longer than planed it is not foreseen that the Project Management Officer will enter duty before June-July 2023. The Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit (SSPU) urgently needs the services of a short-term consultant (3 months) to support the inception phase and kick off these two initiatives and to support additional resource mobilization efforts of the SSPU, which could include supporting the design of a multi-country wastewater co-investment platform under the GCF (Green Climate Fund), and a potential collaboration on catalyzing finance for wastewater/sanitation with the UN Sanitation and Hygiene Fund. The international consultant will support the work of the Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit of UNEP's Marine and Freshwater Branch, specifically with the development of a longer-term programme on wastewater by adopting circular and one-health approaches applied to wastewater high-impact sectors. This assignment is within UNEP’s Ecosystems Divisions, Marine and Freshwater Branch (MFWB), Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit, under the direct supervision of Programme Management Officer responsible for wastewater management and will work home-based. Duties and Responsibilities The international consultant will: •Supporting the inception phase and kick off of the initiative on “Strategies, capacity and data for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa”. •Supporting the inception phase and kick off of the initiative on “Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia”. •Provide specialized support on strategic resource mobilization efforts of the SSPU related with the new project “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”. •Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: A Master’s university degree in development studies, sustainability, environmental science, environmental management, water, wastewater, political science, or another related field is required. Required at least 7 years’ experience working design and implement sustainable wastewater management projects at international level, preferably with experience on inception phase, kick off and/or evaluation of projects or programmes for Multilateral Organizations. Within this experience a minimum of least four (4) years of experience mobilizing resources for UN agencies is desirable" Desirable Experience: Knowledge demonstrating experience working on wastewater management, including in Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Malaysia. A strong familiarity with the aims and ambitions of the United Nations Environment Programme, and with its processes and guidelines for project management and resource mobilization. The consultant must demonstrate ambition as a systems-thinker and clearly demonstrate the following competencies: 1. Excellent communication skills. 2. Computer literacy (especially in use of MS Office programs). 3. Strong teamwork, and ability to build relationships. 4. Excellent research abilities and analytical skills.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge 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.