Battery End of Life Consultant

The candidate will support the Sustainable Mobility Unit in delivering the following products/services under the direct supervision o f the Programme Management Officer for Heavy Duty Vehicles and SIDS: 1. The consultant will prepare a comprehensive assessment report to support the design of a regional hub-and-spoke model for the collection, consolidation, and transboundary shipment of end-of-life EV batteries in the Caribbean Island Countries. The report will include the following : a. Stock take of existing battery imports, exports, and EV registrations in Caribbean Island countries and potential hub locations. b. An analysis of the current battery waste flows projected future volumes and existing disposal and export practices across Caribbean Island countries. c. An assessment of infrastructure readiness in Caribbean Island countries and potential hub locations, including interim storage, collection systems, and packaging and transport capabilities. d. A mapping of existing shipping and freight routes, logistics providers, aggregation opportunities, and safety requirements for trans frontier shipment in the wider Caribbean. e. An identification of institutional gaps and functional barriers, including regulatory, technical, and logistical constraints, affecting effective implementation of a hub-and-spoke model; and f. A mapping of key stakeholders, including Basel Focal Points, Customs authorities, waste operators, shipping companies, and other relevant actors, together with their potential roles in the system.

UNEP - NAIROBI

5 MONTHS

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. The overall objective of the Industry and Economy Division of UNEP is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities, and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies, 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. The Caribbean region is facing a growing challenge in managing end-of-life (EoL) electric vehicle batteries. Increasing numbers of EVs are already reaching end-of-life today, which require immediate and specialized handling. As countries in the region accelerate electric mobility through national energy transition plans the volume of waste batteries arising from accidents, malfunction, degradation, and fleet renewal is expected to grow steadily. Small island developing states face significant structural barriers in addressing this challenge. Remote locations, low waste volumes, high shipping costs, and the absence of facilities for testing, discharging, packaging, classification, and storage make safe management difficult. In the absence of viable export pathways, hazardous waste may accumulate for extended periods, increasing the risk of fire, thermal runaway, toxic leakage and environmental contamination. At the same time, national authorities face a heavy administrative burden in navigating complex transboundary movement procedures without adequate technical support. The UNEP-SMU is assessing a regional hub-and-spoke system for the collection, consolidation, and compliant transboundary shipment of EV battery waste. By consolidating volumes and harmonizing procedures, this system can support the business case for responsible end-of-life solutions for EV batteries, improve health & safety conditions, and create a predictable export route for Caribbean Island countries to address these gaps. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer for Heavy Duty Vehicles and SIDS and Programme Management Officer- LAC Region, SMU, the consultant will conduct the following specific tasks: i) Perform a stock take of existing battery imports, exports and EVs registration in Caribbean Island countries and potential hubs. ii) Analyze quantities of current waste flows and projections, and disposal/export practices among Caribbean Island countries. iii) Assess infrastructure readiness in Caribbean Island countries and potential hub locations (interim storage, collection systems, packaging/transport capabilities). iv) Map existing shipping/freight routes, logistics providers, aggregation opportunities, and safety requirements for Transfrontier shipment in the wider Caribbean. v) Identify institutional gaps and functional barriers (regulatory, technical, logistical) to effective hub-and-spoke implementation. vi) Map key stakeholders (Basel Focal Points, Customs, waste operators, shipping companies, etc.) and their potential roles.

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in engineering, transport or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five years’ work experience in transport projects or battery waste management in Latin American/ Caribbean countries is required. Knowledge on transport issues in Latin America or Caribbean, including strong research experience in transport systems and waste management specifically, is required. Experience in data collection and research is required. Experience in battery waste management is required. Experience in data analysis and modelling skills are required. Experience in report development is desirable. Familiarity with transport planning frameworks and transport modelling is highly desirable. Proven experience in analytical, presentation, and communication skills are desirable.

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

Not available.

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.