International Environmental Consultant

at  United Nations

Result of Service
The Consultant is expected to complete all tasks and deliver all outputs, as specified in the Functional Description 4 (work plan). The work of the expert will be directly monitored and overall supervised by the UNEP project team and the Head of the Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for Chemicals and. Pollution Action. Together with the UNEP project team the consultant will: • Map and review the publicly available data on air pollution-related health impacts in the six Western Balkans economies through desk activities and ad hoc meetings with the relevant stakeholders (on-line and in presence): Key data/parameters describing the air pollution challenge in Western Balkans (e.g. PM levels), sources of pollution (including coal and old/outdated vehicle fleets, etc.), health impacts, and common drivers with Climate Change, key regional Conventions and Legal Frameworks (e.g. UNECE Air Convention, relevant EC Directives, etc.), transboundary issues (within the Western Balkans region and between the region and the rest of Europe). • Support UNEP’s project team is concluding ongoing mapping of relevant UN System’s projects (and other development partners’ projects) or initiatives addressing air pollution issues in Western Balkan economies. • Support UNEP in identifying and involving key stakeholders in the Western Balkans to identify and prioritize high-impact sectors for which the consultant will develop country specific recommendations and in line with key policy instruments. • Develop recommendations for policy action in each Western Balkan economy to mitigate air pollution emissions from high-impact sectors and reduce their impacts on human health, identifying scale of action and investment needed to address the High-Impact Sectors at the sources of Air Pollution in the Western Balkans (notably energy production, housing, transport) • Participate in the project launching webinar event and in other relevant meetings organised by UNEP within the framework of the regional air quality project and, as relevant, of the South Eastern Europe Pollution Platform (SEEPP), taking place during the timeframe of this consultancy. In summary, the ultimate result of the consulting services is to provide technical support to UNEP in the implementation of its new regional air quality project in the Western Balkans, ensuring the sustainability of the project’s results in region and contributing to UNEP’s efforts to develop an air quality policy expert network at national and regional levels under the scope of the South Eastern Europe Pollution Platform (SEEPP).
Work Location
Home-based
Expected duration
six months
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The topic of pollution represents one of the most pressing health issues worldwide, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers, through the SDGs and its pollution reducing targets, a great chance for triggering concrete initiatives to tackle pollution. In 2019, UNEP developed the regional study “Air pollution and human health in the Western Balkans” , providing an overview of the key findings of the health effects of air pollution and the key recommendations for the governments in the region. The study provided the assessments of the pollutants and sources, health risks and threats and the monitoring overview in the period from 2010-2015. According to the study, city dwellers in the Western Balkans breathe air with concentrations of pollutants up to five times higher than levels specified in national, European and WHO Air Quality Guidance standards. The 2019 study was further followed in 2021 with a publication of a summary of its key messages for policy-makers and the public. To further support the governments of the Western Balkans UNEP decided to continue supporting activities to improve evidence-based policymaking and action in the region to reduce air pollution from high-impact sectors and their effects on human health and to support implementation of UNEA-6 Resolution UNPE/EA.6/Res.10 - Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally , which was adopted by the United Nations Environment Assembly on 1 March 2024 . This UNEP initiative is developed within the framework of the UNEP-wide project on Improving Air Quality, under UNEP’s Programme Coordination Project (PCP) on Pollution and Health, and will be rolled out in close coordination with UNRC Offices, UNCT members and other relevant development partners in the Western Balkans under the broad framework of the South Eastern Europe Pollution Platform (SEEPP) established in 2019 and implemented by UNEP with the support for the Italian Ministry of Environment. The main aim of this consultancy is to assist UNEP in implementation of its new regional air quality project aimed at supporting governments in Western Balkan economies to improve national capacities in addressing the links between air pollution and health impacts and for accelerating evidence-based policy action to mitigate air pollution emissions from high-priority sectors and reduce their impacts on human health. More specifically, the key objective of this consultancy is the provision of technical support to UNEP project activities aimed at: • Developing country-specific policy recommendations to reduce air pollution emissions from priority high-impact sectors. • Convening of regional/national multi-stakeholder dialogues to promote the uptake of policy recommendations and investment and action by project partners/stakeholders (including the private sector, World Bank, regional development banks, donors, etc.) in each beneficiary country in close collaboration with UNRC Offices, UNCT and others. • Advocacy on the socio-economic costs of air pollution-induced health impacts in the Western Balkans to mobilize highest-level political buy-in for action. Based on the findings of the study on “Air pollution and human health in the Western Balkans” and through a multi-stakeholder capacity building approach, the project will support the governments of the Western Balkans. In order to deliver on these objectives, the UNEP regional air quality project is structured into 3 main activities and related results, to be supported under this consultancy. In order to support the implementation of its new regional air quality project in the Western Balkans and the above-listed project activities, UNEP is looking to bring onboard an air quality expert with specific and consolidated experience in air quality data collection and policy development in the Western Balkans to map and review the existing data on air pollution-related health impacts in each of the six Western Balkans economies from 2018-2023, to support the identification and prioritization of relevant high-impact sectors in each country and related policy gaps, and to develop a set of country specific policy recommendations in line with key policy instruments, addressing issues and gaps identified that are currently preventing effective action on clean air. Under UNEP’s supervision, the consultant will work closely with various stakeholders to maintain a thorough understanding of project dynamics and to successfully implement the project. The consultant is also expected to participate in project meetings with the UNEP’s project team and the main beneficiaries’ institutions in the Western Balkans, be aware of relevant policy trends in the countries and at regional level, as well as other similar projects, government and donor initiatives at national, regional and international level promoting action on clean air.
Qualifications/special skills
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, air pollution management and control, political science, international studies, public policy, or other related fields. • A minimum of 5 years of work experience relevant to the assignment is required; • At least five years of experience in working with air pollution, and/or health data collection and elaboration and policy development. • Demonstrated ability to coordinate and drive communications with international partners and manage operational activities with relevant stakeholders. • Previous working experience in the Western Balkans is required. • Knowledge of the UN System in the Western Balkans is an advantage. • Previous working experience in UN System projects/initiatives is an advantage. • Outstanding written and oral communications skills; • Proficient in MS Office, various media and social media applications; • Excellent work ethic and interpersonal skills; • Excellent time-management skills; • A positive attitude and enthusiasm about project goals; • Flexibility in responding to additional requirements; • Accountability for management of time and task completion; • Accountability for achievement towards fulfilling project aims and objectives; • Ability and flexibility to travel to project sites. • Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards; • Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNEP; • Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; • A strong client orientation attitude to both local and international partners.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of local languages in the Western Balkans is an advantage.

Additional Information
Not available.
No Fee

Please refer the Job description for details