Consultant for the Regulatory Diagnosis and Analysis of HFC-23 Policies

​Requisition ID: 7851 
Grade: ISA-NOC 
Country: Mexico 
Duty Station: Mexico City 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 50 working days over a period of 4 months
Application deadline: 17-Aug-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

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.
 UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

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 UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declarationadopted 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

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, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. 

The position is located under the Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) and Montreal Protocol Unit (TCS/CMP/MPU). TCS/CMP/MPU acts as focal point in UNIDO for the multilateral agreement on the ozone layer protection and assist governments in the creation of policy environment and implementation mechanisms in the context of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. The Unit is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of activities in Member States to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment and to support countries to achieve their NDCs.  

PROJECT CONTEXT

SAP ID 210198 - Kigali HFC Implementation Plan (KIP) 

In 2016, a modification to the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali Amendment (KA), an international instrument in which countries committed to reducing the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the next 30 years, was adopted in Kigali, Rwanda. It is estimated that the adoption of these measures will represent climate benefits of more than 80 billion tCO2e by 2050, which could prevent an increase of up to 0.5 °C in global temperature by the end of the century.

The KA establishes that all Parties to the Montreal Protocol must gradually reduce the use of HFCs.  Mexico, as a Country operating under Article 5 and a member of Group 1, must freeze its baseline consumption (average of the county’s 2020, 2021 and 2022 annual consumptions) in the year 2024 and progressively reduce it to 80% of its baseline for the year 2045, as per the reduction schedule established by said instrument.

At its 93rd meeting, the Executive Committee approved the KIP stage I for Mexico for the period 2023 - 2029 to reduce HFC consumption by 10 percent of the country’s estimated baseline by 2029, as reflected in the schedule contained in annex II of the UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/70 document. 

Furthermore the Executive Committee approved the pilot project to maintain and/or enhance the energy efficiency of replacement technologies and equipment in the context of HFC phase down for Mexico, the conditions referred to in decision 91/65(b)(iv)b. to b(iv)d.; and the project would be operationally completed no later than December 2026, and that a detailed project report would be submitted to the Executive Committee within six months of the date of completion of the project. 

To address the outstanding tasks and new commitments to the Montreal Protocol, as well as to comply with national and international guidelines applicable to project development, it is considered relevant to promote the strengthening of the NOU, through operational monitoring of activities, documentation and dissemination of projects, gender equality and training of staff in technical aspects and in the implementation of environmental projects with international funding.  

The project aims at capacity building of the SEMARNAT (Ministry of Environment)/ NOU and will ensure support to the Government in meeting its obligations under the Montreal Protocol on the substances that deplete the ozone layer.

In this context, the NOU will be assisted in monitoring and identification of the consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances and updating of national policies and regulations, with the main focus on hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) consumption, substances that do not damage the ozone layer, but which have a high potential for global warming.

The NOU will monitor all project related activities, including the collection of consumption and production data and reporting as required by the Montreal Protocol and the Multilateral Fund, with a specific focus on the HFC phase-down schedule for the Article 5 countries and the agreement between Mexico and the Executive Committee. 

Institutional strengthening actions will also aim to make more efficient the link between the national government and the implementing agency.

SAP ID 190178 – Control of HFC-23 by-product in HCFC-22 production

Under UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/96/47, the Government of Mexico has committed to control and phase out HFC-23 emissions generated as a by-product during the production of HCFC-22 at the Quimobásicos facility, in line with the obligations of the Montreal Protocol and the agreement established with the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund.

The project “Control and Phase-out of HFC-23 emissions in production of HCFC-22 in Mexico” focuses on ensuring the continuous destruction of HFC-23 emissions through the operation of on-site plasma destruction units, while also strengthening monitoring, verification, and operational practices to minimize HFC-23 emissions.

As the project moves into its later implementation stages, the Government of Mexico has also committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of HFC-23 emission controls beyond the project period (2030). In this context, the fourth tranche introduces a policy-focused component aimed at reviewing and strengthening national policies and regulatory frameworks related to HFC-23 emissions management. This includes conducting studies and analyses of existing regulations, as well as preparing the basis for legal instruments that will ensure the continued control of HFC-23 emissions after project completion. Under this project, the policy component will therefore play a central role in supporting the establishment of durable regulatory and institutional measures to sustain compliance and emissions control over the long term.

This consultancy is aligned with Mexico's commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, as well as contributing to national goals for sustainable development and climate action.

The Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016, aims to progressively reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), greenhouse gases with high global warming potential used mainly in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. As a signatory country, Mexico has committed to freezing its baseline consumption of HFCs from 2024 and achieving a 10% reduction by 2029.

HFC-23 is an unavoidable by-product of HCFC-22 production. Given its very high global warming potential, its control and destruction is considered a priority under the Montreal Protocol framework. Mexico’s project therefore focuses not on the phase-out of HCFC-22 production per se, but on ensuring the continuous monitoring, control, and destruction of HFC-23 by-product emissions associated with that production.

Under the fourth tranche, this policy assistance includes a study and analysis of potential national policies and regulations for the control of HFC-23 by-product emissions, while the fifth tranche will support the development of a legal instrument to ensure sustained destruction after project completion.

Under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator and UNIDO Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the UNIDO HQ and field location, the Consultant will be responsible for the following main tasks:

Support information

The following information will be provided by the NOU to the consultant for the purpose of the project: 

• PROJECT PROPOSALS: MEXICO, Kigali HFC implementation plan (stage I, first tranche). 
• Decisions 86/96 and 84/91 Key aspects related to HFC-23 by-product control technologies: Mexico. 
• Decision XXII/10: Destruction technologies with regard to ozone-depleting substances1. 
• Related international regulations (example USA2; NOM-098). 
• Related National regulation (NOM-098-SEMARNAT-2002, NOM-040-SEMARNAT-2002 and others) 

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Law, Economics, Public Policy, or another relevant discipline is required.  

Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Experience, technical and functional expertise:

1. • At least five (5) years of work experience in legal affairs legal related to public policy, or other legal fields related to the post is required. 
   • Demonstrated experience in policy development and regulatory analysis is required.  
   • Experience related to regulatory analysis and the implementation of environmental public policies in Mexico is required.  
   • Experience conducting Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) in Mexico related to ozone-depleting substances (ODS), refrigerant gases, atmospheric pollutants, hazardous waste, or other relevant environmental matters is required.  
   • Experience in projects involving policy analysis and implementation related to controlled substances (ODS and HFCs) and/or hazardous waste management is desirable.   
   • Experience related to the Montreal Protocol and/or the Kigali Amendment is desirable.   

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is required. Working competencies in written and spoken English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES  

CORE VALUES:

• Excellence – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance
• Integrity – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly
• Inclusion – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness
• Humility – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions
• Humanity – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development

CORE BEHAVIOURS:

• Connect & Collaborate - Build trust through communication and teamwork; Share knowledge and embrace diversity
• Analyse & Plan - Use data and evidence for decision-making; Plan proactively and prioritize effectively
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Take ownership and deliver quality outputs; Align work with UNIDO mission and objectives
• Learn and Develop - Continuously develop skills; Seek feedback and share knowledge
• Adapt and Innovate - Respond flexibly to change; Embrace innovation and new approaches

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