Background
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 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/handling of POPs and other obsolete pesticides contaminated 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.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and within the overall advice of UNDP SGR (Sustainable Growth and Resilience) Programme Analyst and in close cooperation with the Project team, the International Adviser 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 notice will be fixed in the long term agreement (LTA), while details on tasks, duration (work days and delivery deadlines), 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 Adviser may be modified/adjusted accordingly.
Consistent with the above reflected general scope, the Adviser will undertake the following activities (some of which will be conducted visiting Armenia) in support of the overall Project implementation:
Contribute to updating the Project detailed work plan (including the annual and master plan);
Guide and assist with drafting of a tender documentation packages, specifically the technical specifications/TORs/RFPs, 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 chemical hazardous waste burial site; (ii) detailed site assessment and risk 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/degradation, treatment and remediation options; (v) design and development of hazardous waste storage facility, other related civil works and relevant supervising activities; (vi) clean-up of historical OP houses/OP stocks in rural areas, etc.;
Support UNDP Armenia Country Office and UNDP HQ Montreal Protocol/Chemicals Unit, the Project team and the Government of Armenia (per identified need) in technologically distinct and commercially justified defining of the scope and volume of works where supplementary/local resource mobilization is relevant and assist in transferring the respective knowledge and experience to the national partners, international organizations, foundations, bilateral donors and financial institutions to gather resources from additional sources (Government and/or other) to ensure timely and environmentally sound implementation of infrastructure related civil works;
Guide /advise on the implementation of planned sub-contracted works at Nubarashen and Kotayk sites, inclusive the processes/technologies and committed co-financing component: i) waste/soil excavation from the landfill and feasible segregation, ii) interim storage, iii) POPs waste transportation/export procedures, iv) contaminated soil treatment/remediation (major component involving co-finance), and v) conservation of the remediated landfill.
Guide on the selection of cost-effective treatment/remediation technologies of Category 2 soil heavily contaminated with POPs and advise on: i) international pre-qualification through trial treatment testing on candidate shortlisted technologies, ii) tender and contract document preparation; and iii) environmentally sound treatment/remediation.
Per confirmed need, contribute to the development of recommendations for technical and environmental performance assessment of the existing and locally functioning 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 of the collection, preparation, characterization and transfer of sample materials for the above testing;
Provide technical guidance and training materials relevant to the EHS aspects of the works to be facilitated by the Project (if confirmed) and implemented by local partners (inclusive the respective community administration, private owners, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Health) for safe accumulation of the pesticide waste currently located in community-based obsolete pesticides storehouses; packaging and transportation for storage/elimination.
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 laboratory upgrading for hazardous chemicals testing as required for accreditation;
Develop recommendations for the review and amendments to the national regulatory framework covering hazardous waste and contaminated sites management, HW transportation, storage to meet the requirements of the relevant Conventions;
Provide recommendations for updating the social and environmental screening procedure (SESP) along the project implementation.
Expected outputs
Outputs and delivery time frame will be defined for each assignment under a specific TOR. Several country missions are envisaged to conduct field visits and provide input to site assessment and design/specification development work for excavation, packaging, transportation, site cleanup, and environmentally sound secure storage. The schedule for country visits will be planned and agreed per identified need.
Competencies
Demonstrated knowledge of United Nations, Global Environment 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 analytic and strategic thinking to advise on any needed modification for best acceptable scenario compliant and matching the local and international requirements/standards;
Proven knowledge of communication tools, excellent – concise and easy understandable writing and presentation skills, computer literacy;
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;
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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced University degree (MSc, MA or PhD) in chemical / environmental engineering, chemical 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 and /or other waste management projects, and specifically in POPs burial site and stockpiles clean-up works design/modeling and implementation, transportation, storage, treatment, remediation with assurance of compliance to EHS requirements;
Specific experience in piloting and implementing POPs-contaminated soil remediation/recovery technologies, with a reference to the GEF and Conventions contexts;
Experience in designing and evaluating international tenders for large-scale POPs and /or other 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 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 applications.
Payment mode
A daily based payable modality is envisaged upon submission of deliverables and acceptance/approval by UNDP CO for each identified task (reflected in the agreed and signed specific TOR) and based on cumulative number of days factually spent. Costs of country visits will be reimbursed separately.
Application evaluation
The applicants will be requested to offer per day price for task implementation.
Individual expert will be evaluated based on the following methodology.
Cumulative analysis: When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight: 70
Financial Criteria weight: 30
Candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 points under Technical Criteria will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the selection interview.
Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).
UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants.
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.
General Conditions of Contract for ICs is available here:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.