International Adviser on Hazardous Waste Management and Elimination of Obsolete Pesticide Stockpiles

The overall objective of the UNDP/GEF full sized Project “Elimination of Obsolete Pesticide Stockpiles and Addressing POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) Contaminated Sites Within a Sound Chemicals Management Framework in Armenia” Project is to protect human health and the environment globally as well as locally through elimination of POPs and obsolete pesticide stockpiles, and addressing associated contaminated sites within a sound chemicals management framework. The Project, coordinated jointly by the Ministry of Nature Protection, by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations and, will meet this objective by eliminating a large POPs pesticide burial site that represents the most hazardous and major POPs accumulation stockpile and waste legacy for the country. In total, approximately 7,100  t of POPs waste in the form of heavily contaminated soil, 1,050 t of POPs pesticides and other obsolete pesticides will be recovered, secured and ultimately treated/remediated and destroyed in an environmentally sound fashion. A further 12,700 t of less severely POPs contaminated soil will be securely contained. As well the remaining significant historical OP storehouses at 24 locations have OP stocks that needs to be packaged and removed and residual site contamination cleaned up.

Additionally the project will support with upgrading of critically needed hazardous waste infrastructure and national technical capability for the ongoing management of POPs and other chemical hazardous wastes as well as supporting the strengthening of institutional and regulatory capacity within an overall chemicals management framework.

Considering the complexity of the project, limited local knowledge in the subject area and the absence of experience in the implementation of similar nature projects in Armenia, a mid- to long-term international consultancy is necessary to support the project implementation.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and within the overall advice of UNDP Environmental Governance Portfolio Analyst and in close cooperation with the Project team the International Adviser (IA) will be responsible for the overall technical guidance and support in structuring the Project planning and implementation processes, as well as will substantially support with the Project Assurance role, particularly with respect to due diligence related to POPs elimination. The overall responsibility framework/scope of assignment defined by the current TOR will be fixed in the long term agreement, while details, the duration and the station for each specific assignment will be specified in separate TORs.    

The Project’s scope and the work-plan itself is contingent upon the national decision on POPs waste elimination/remediation scenarios and depending on any certain decision the duties and responsibilities for the IA may be modified/adjusted accordingly.

Consistent with the above reflected general scope, the IA will undertake the following activities (some of which will be conducted visiting Armenia) in support of the overall Project implementation:

• Support with the development of the Project detailed work plan and participate in the Project’s inception workshop in a facilitation capacity for the discussion of the Project’s detailed implementation approach with a Work Plan finalization;
• Guide UNDP Armenia Country Office and Montreal Protocol/Chemicals Unit, the Project team and the Government of Armenia in defining resource mobilization strategy and support in negotiations with national partners, international organizations, foundations, bilateral donors and financial institutions to gather resources from additional sources (Government and/or other) to ensure implementation of infrastructure related civil works;
• Develop recommendations for technical and environment performance assessment of the existing incineration facility, as well as related to identified local treatment facilities/technologies  to proceed with an international standard test burn and remediation, provide recommendations on the technological upgrading  needs to correspond to the requirements of international standards; support with designing the collection, preparation, characterization and transfer of sample materials for the above testing;
• Guide and assist with the development of a tender documentation packages, specifically the technical specifications, requirements and evaluation criteria to assess application of best available technologies and relevance to international standards, for the selection of a qualified companies to provide services, such as: (i): geotechnical/hydrological stabilization and restoration design of burial site; (ii) detailed site assessment; (iii) design and implementation of excavation, packaging, transportation activities, EIA as well as technical and safeguarding site supervision; (iv) site clean-up, environmentally sound elimination, treatment and remediation options; (v) hazardous waste storage construction, other related civil works and relevant supervising activities; (vi) surficial clean-up of historical OP houses/OP stocks in rural areas, etc.;
• Support the Project team in technical and safeguarding site supervision of activities associated with civil works at burial site, storage, as identified;
• Support in developing recommendations for rationalization and optimization of national laboratory capacities for POPs/OPs waste sampling, analysis, monitoring. Develop technical specifications, criteria and procedure for the hazardous chemicals testing laboratory upgrading as required for accreditation;
• Develop recommendations for the revision and amendments to the national regulatory framework covering hazardous waste and contaminated sites management, transportation, storage to meet the requirements of relevant Conventions;
• Provide recommendations for the design of an operational guidance on the environmental and social screening along the project implementation.

Expected outputs

Outputs and delivery time frame will be defined for each assignment under specific TOR. A few country visits are envisaged to attend inception workshop, conduct field visits and provide inputs into site assessment and design/specification development work for excavation, packaging, site cleanup, and environmnetally sound secure storage. Country visits schedule will be agreed later after approval of the Project Detailed Work Plan.

Payment mode

Lump sum payable amount based on agreed daily rate is envisaged upon submission of deliverables and approval by UNDP CO for each identified task. Cost of country visits will be included into lump sum amount.

• Demonstrated knowledge of United Nations, Global Environmental Facility, The Stockholm and Basel Conventions,  other international or bilateral organizations and their policy, programme and operations;
• Understanding of and practical exposure to the institutional framework governing chemical and waste management in the countries with economies in transition;
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different professional, social and cultural backgrounds;
• Flexibility to easily adapt to the modifications of assignment as needed and/or induced by policy or scenario change;
• Strong track record with producing high quality research and strong quantitative skills in project design, scenario analysis;
• Proven knowledge of communication tools, excellent writing and presentation skills, computer literacy;
• Excellent coordination and collaboration skills, with ability to work under time pressure and handle multiple activities and projects concurrently;
• Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in a team based information sharing.

Education:

• Advanced University degree (MSc, MA or PhD) in chemical and industrial engineering, hazardous waste management. A relevant University degree in combination with qualifying experience in the project design, monitoring and management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience in hazardous chemicals/waste management, of which 5 years in designing/providing consultancies for GEF POPs waste management projects, and specifically in POPs burial site and stockpiles clean-up, transportation, treatment, remediation;
• Specific experience in piloting and implementing POPs soil contaminated remediation/recovery technologies, with a reference to the GEF and Conventions contexts;
• Experience in designing and evaluating international tenders for large scale POPs waste management projects;
• Direct experience in structuring and integrating co-financing with GEF grant contributions  for projects of this type and scale, including identification and negotiation of co-financing arrangements;
• Proven experience in GEF project design, preparation and implementation under UNDP and other implementing Agencies; experience in handling of GEF review processes;
• Proven practical experience in information gathering and research methodology; experience in coaching/mentoring/assisting team of consultants.

Languages:

• Proficiency in English language is required. Familiarity with Russian language is an asset.

Computer skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.