Regional Technical Specialist for Chemicals and Waste

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. 

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan.  BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response.  BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working.  BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy, and Chemicals and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support Oversight and Compliance Unit, work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests.
• Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems.
• Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS. 
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
• Sustainable Energy. 
• Extractive Industries. 
• Chemicals and Waste Management. 
• Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. 

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships in Nature, Climate, Energy and Chemicals & Waste, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds (VFs), UNDP’s Vertical Fund Programme Support Oversight and Compliance Unit supports UNDP’s Nature, Climate, Energy and Chemicals & Waste related Hubs and provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

Sound chemical and waste management could eliminate the hazardous chemicals and waste from the key value chains and facilitate the transition to sustainable production and consumption patterns towards circularity. Chemicals and Waste Hub has specialized technical and policy advisory teams in New York, Istanbul, Bangkok, Addis, Amman, and Panama to support clients’ countries through UNDP Regional Hubs and Country Offices to put in place the right mix of regulatory and financial incentives, remove institutional and policy barriers, and create enabling environments that attract and drive public and private sector investment into sustainable development. In doing this, the Chemicals and Waste Hub assists partner countries to access, combine, and sequence resources from a range of funds, financial instruments, and mechanisms, including GEF and MLF. 

This position is to support the portfolio development and oversight in the chemical and waste Hub. This includes work under the Chemicals and Waste Focal area in the GEF as well as on sustainable cooling primarily funded by the MLF and on sustainable cooling under the Montreal Protocol and other tasks related to the sound management of chemicals and plastic for the Latin America and the Caribbean region by working closely with the Regional Team Lead in Panama City and the Chemical and Waste Hub. The Regionsal Technical Specialist will be part of the Chemicals and Waste Hub in BPPS and will be home based. The Specialist will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Team Lead of the Chemicals and Waste Hub for LAC. 
 

The Regional Technical Specialist is primarily responsible for providing high-quality technical policy, programming, implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services to UNDP country offices in the region. Secondary clients might include other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, and the like. 

Provision of Strategic Leadership, Innovation, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:

• Contribute to a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region and globally, including establishing contact and identifying strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
• Participate in the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development within the BPPS and beyond. Engagement in policy and advocacy work with external partners where relevant;
• Provide policy development support and guidance to country offices and governments;
• Advise and support the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
• Facilitate policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
• Maintain trusted relationships with country offices, government, and non-governmental partners’ role within the region and globally;
• Keep the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area and contribute actively to the development and implementation of the LAC Energy and Environment Team  programming and Business Plans;
• Keep the Principal/Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) informed of trends and issues in the region;
• Work in coordination with other Specialists in the region to develop projects requiring technical guidance for multiple areas.

Lead Programming and Management:

• Guiding the development of strategic policy and guidance for strengthening UNDP Country Offices with chemicals and waste project design and implementation, including alignment with national priorities; 
• Leading the development of and advocacy for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance in support of programming and finance for sound chemicals and waste management; 
• Contributing to the establishment of a trusted leadership role within the region; 
• Sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports; 
• Contributing to regional retreats, focal area retreats, regional strategic planning, pipeline management exercises, etc.; 
• Promoting gender equity/empowerment in programming opportunities; 
• Helping to ensure that strategies and projects are aligned to country outcomes and UNDP corporate environment results in internal UNDP project tracking systems (e.g. ERBM); 
• Maintaining quality and accuracy in data and project management systems (e.g. PIMS+), management of Quantum Risks logs, and portfolio delivery rates; 
• Monitoring to ensure expected quality standards are maintained in project implementation reviews; 
• Supporting the RCU to internalize lessons from evaluations in programming in the region. 

Provision of Policy Advisory and Resource Mobilization:

• Advise programme and project identification and development, including on integrated approaches and multifocal area projects;
• Providing timely and quality information and technical advise on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities, including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors and foundations;
• Identify and suggest to the RTAs priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
• Facilitate the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
• Provide guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and reviewing reports;
• Facilitate liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.

Ensure effective development impact:

• Guide with inception, contracting and initiation of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
• Advise and support UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
• Guide the UNDP country offices with organizing and compiling information that will feed into the project development exercise;
• Prepare reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results.            

Facilitate Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:

• Evaluate, capture, codify, synthesize lessons and stimulate the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
• Peer review, comment on, and seek to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Contribute to the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
• Support the preparation and delivery of training courses;
• Respond to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Institutional Arrangement

• The Technical Specialist – Chemicals and Waste will report to the regional lead of the CW team in Panama, as well as to the RTL based in Panama;
• The Technical Specialist – Chemicals and Waste will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Technical Specialist – Chemicals and Waste will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, phone) and must have access to reliable internet connection;  
• The Specialist  will engage regularly with the supervisor by email, Teams, Zoom, etc.  on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis; 
• The Specialist shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks; 
   

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Competencies

• Business Direction and Strategy - System Thinking: 
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
• Business Management - Partnership Management:
  • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• 2030 Agenda: Planet - Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals & Waste: 
  • Chemicals and Waste management: practical application.
• 2030 Agenda: Planet - Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals & Waste:
  • Green Economy: Circular economy concepts, policies, and tools.
• 2030 Agenda: Peace - Nature, Climate, Energy, Chemicals & Waste    .
  Energy: 
  • Energy access
• 2030 Agenda: People - Gender:
  • Gender Mainstreaming.

Desired additional skills and competencies:

• At least 7 years of experience in UN or international organization and knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices would be an advantage 
• Experience working with developing countries on the sound management of Chemicals and waste is an advantage, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean; 
• Experience working with Energy Efficiency and Energy transition  an advantage;
• Experience working with multilateral, bilateral and/or regional environmental funds including experience with the Global Environment Facility is an advantage; 
• Experience in project management (direct experience an advantage) and guiding project implementation and management an advantage;