Policy Researcher

The work of the consultant will contribute to the production of a finalized 40-50 page report which will be then formatted as an UNCTAD publication. The consultant is also expected to assist in events related to dissemination of the report, including liaison with plastics INC and the WTO Dialogue on plastics.

Home-based

01.04.23 - 31.03.24

The Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (TED) Branch of the Division on International Trade and Commodities of UNCTAD assists developing countries in strengthening their capacity to design and implement mutually supportive trade, environment, climate change and sustainable development objectives in development strategies at all levels.


Under the supervision of Project Officer, the consultant is needed to perform the following duties:

• In coordination with the project officer, prepare a methodological note structing the approach to survey the SMEP plastic projects and derive national and trade-related policy lessons which can facilitate the deployment of similar projects in the future.
• Conduct a literature review using SMEP and other technical sources, including previous work on plastic substitutes, mappings of goods and services which can assist in plastic pollution mitigation, and national legislation aspects of countries covered in the SMEP plastics intervention. The scoping should also involve the latest findings from LCA examinations of material-shift performed by UNCTAD’s SMEP Dashboard and other relevant sources, such as UNEP life cycle initiative.
• A set of 9 structured interviews with project developers and the principal investigators under the SMEP plastics project portfolio.
• Preparation of a 40–50-page summary report containing the structured lessons, formatted, and presented in a way to make it policy-relevant for national authorities, project developers and negotiators involved in the Plastics INC process.
• Assist, by performing the role of specialist technical support on plastics policy, to the organization and delivery of various plastic pollution-related events and activities organized by the UNCTAD SMEP and Blue Economy teams throughout 2023 and early 2024. This shall include specific support, including the co-drafting of background notes and summary of discussions, for events related to:
o Dissemination of the UNCTAD study on material substitutes to plastics (publication expected in May 2023).
o Dissemination of the upcoming UNCTAD study on services-dimensions of plastic pollution mitigation and prevention (expected for July 2023).
o Support to UNCTAD inputs to the Dialogue on Plastics at the WTO, drawing from SMEP project experiences during 2023-2024.
o Support to UNCTAD contributions to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution and related sessions in 2023-2024.
o Support to organization of a plastic policy workshop at the Indo-Pacific region (planned for August 2023).
o Dissemination of UNCTAD study on material shifts in specific sectors of interest of developing countries (fishing nets, food packaging for exports) expected for November 2023.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Finance, International Relations, Political Science, Environmental studies, or related field.
Five years work experience in economic development, particularly in themes related to environmental sustainability and economic transformation is required. Experience working on plastic pollution issues is required. Experience with coordination of report reviews, evaluation and derivation of policy lessons is an asset.

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of basic French is desired.

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.