Technical Expert for UNEP Plastics Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the designated entity within the United Nations system that addresses environmental issues at both global and regional levels. Established to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus, UNEP plays a crucial role in keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The organization works with a diverse range of stakeholders, including international governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, to develop and implement policies and strategies that promote cleaner and safer practices, incorporate environmental costs, and reduce pollution. UNEP's Industry and Economy Division specifically focuses on enabling the implementation of conventions and international agreements related to environmental sustainability. The UNEP Plastics Unit is dedicated to activating and scaling up actions to tackle plastic pollution, consolidating all UNEP's plastic-related projects into a unified program aimed at transforming the economy towards a safe circular model. Through collaboration and a multifaceted approach, UNEP seeks to accelerate market transformation and provide technical support to countries on policy, financing, and knowledge generation related to circular economy approaches.

Job Overview:
The position of Technical Expert for the UNEP Plastics Initiative involves providing critical analytical support and technical expertise to enhance the effectiveness of UNEP's efforts in addressing plastic pollution. The consultant will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive analytical review report of the UNEP Plastics Project Document, which includes assessing progress, identifying gaps, and making recommendations for alignment with UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2026–202

• Additionally, the expert will contribute to the revision of the UNEP Plastics Project Document by incorporating updated sections that reflect analytical findings and priority areas. The role also entails synthesizing results from capacity-building projects in the Asia-Pacific region, documenting key lessons learned, and identifying implementation challenges. The consultant will engage in technical review and quality assurance of country-level deliverables, particularly for Malaysia, providing written feedback on regulatory analyses and recommendations to strengthen technical outputs. Furthermore, the expert will analyze the convergence between the Plastics Reboot initiative and other relevant programs, offering recommendations to enhance coherence and complementarity. The position requires designing and delivering knowledge-sharing sessions, preparing technical materials, and documenting outcomes. The consultant will also produce analytical briefs on emerging issues and contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposals, ensuring alignment with program priorities and funding opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Technical Expert include:

• Conducting an analytical review of the UNEP Plastics Project Document, assessing progress and identifying gaps.
• Providing inputs for the revision of the UNEP Plastics Project Document, ensuring it reflects analytical findings and priority areas.
• Synthesizing results from the capacity-building project in Asia-Pacific, documenting key results, lessons learned, and implementation challenges.
• Performing technical reviews and quality assurance of country-level deliverables for Malaysia, including providing feedback on regulatory analysis and recommendations for improvement.
• Developing an analytical note on the alignment between Plastics Reboot and other relevant programs, with recommendations for enhancing coherence.
• Creating a guidance note on integrating selected external tools and frameworks within Plastics Reboot activities.
• Designing and delivering knowledge-sharing sessions, including webinars, and preparing technical materials.
• Producing a set of analytical briefs on emerging issues and opportunities for scaling circular economy solutions to plastic pollution.
• Contributing to the development of concept notes and project proposals, ensuring alignment with program priorities and funding opportunities.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Technical Expert position include:

• An advanced university degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Circular Economy, International Development, or related disciplines.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as circular economy, plastic pollution, chemicals and waste, or sustainable development.
• Experience with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), including familiarity with GEF projects and Integrated Programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in analytical work, including the review of technical documents and preparation of reports or knowledge products.
• Experience in developing project concepts, proposals, or technical inputs for environmental or sustainable development programs is desirable.
• Experience working with international organizations or the United Nations is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (or equivalent) in fields such as Environmental Science, Circular Economy, International Development, or related disciplines. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding of the complex issues surrounding environmental sustainability and plastic pollution.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas: circular economy, plastic pollution, chemicals and waste, or related fields of sustainable development. This level of experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively contribute to the analytical work and technical outputs required by UNEP.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both oral and written, is mandatory for this position. Additionally, fluency in other UN languages is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders across different regions.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based and is expected to last for a duration of 12 months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.