Result of Service

A. The timely preparation and development of a high-quality HFC KIP – Stage I proposal for Saint Kitts & Nevis for submission by UNEP to ExCom-101; B. Three (3) fully compliant, high-quality project reports on the national inventory of banks of waste-controlled substances and the development of a national plan for the management of these substances in Belize, Grenada, and Saint Kitts & Nevis for submission by UNEP to ExCom-101; C. Technical review of five (5) project/report submissions (KIP project documents and ODS Disposal Reports) for submission by UNEP to ExCom-100 and ExCom-101.

Work Location

Homebased

Expected duration

Twelve (12) 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 UNEP Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance, and related policy issues, including those related to multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). It works with international and nongovernmental organizations, national and local governments, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of global treaties. UNEP is an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. UNEP’s OzonAction’s Compliance Action Programme (CAP) provides global management services to ensure that National Ozone Units (NOUs) are provided with adequate advisory services, capacity building and technical assistance to implement activities approved by the Multilateral Fund’s Executive Committee. At the same time, the global programme management services ensure that the Executive Committee receives timely, accurate, relevant and high-quality project proposals, financial and substantive reports, and information about the implementation of actions on the ground. Through its OzonAction Branch, UNEP serves as one of the four Implementing Agencies of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (ExCom), in its 98th meeting, has approved the funding for UNEP to develop the Kigali Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Implementation Plan (KIP) – Stage I for Saint Kitts & Nevis (KNA/HFCIND/28/UNEP/PRP/SRV/98) with UNEP acting as the Lead Implementing Agency and UNIDO as the Cooperating Agency. At the 91st meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund, the Committee decided (decision 91/66) to establish a funding window for the preparation of national inventories of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and a plan for the collection, transport and disposal of such substances, including consideration of recycling, reclamation and cost-effective destruction to assist Article 5 Parties to understand the potential banks of used/unwanted controlled substances, existing infrastructure as well as to develop policy and action plans needed in managing these controlled substances. At the 94th and 96th meetings of the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund, the “Preparation of national inventory of banks of waste-controlled substances and development of a national plan for management of these substances” projects for Belize (BZE/DES/94/PRP/46), Grenada (GRN/DES/94/PRP/37), and Saint Kitts & Nevis (STK/DES/96/PRP/27) were respectively approved, with UNEP as the implementing agency. To fulfill these requirements, UNEP shall engage a qualified international consultant with a proven track record of expertise and experience to provide support to the regional team in the Caribbean during the preparation and submission of the HFC KIP – Stage I for Saint Kitts & Nevis and during the preparation of Reports on Inventory of Banks of Waste-Controlled Substances, and the Development of a National Management Plan for ODS disposal in Belize, Grenada and Saint Kitts & Nevis. Additionally, the consultant will perform a desk review of five (5) project/report submissions (KIP project proposals and ODS disposal reports) submitted to ExCom-100 and ExCom-101. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the OzonAction Montreal Protocol Regional Network Coordinator for the Caribbean for activities related to the development of Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) project proposals and ODS disposal reports, and of the ExCom Coordinator for activities related to the review of project documents and reports, and under the overall guidance of the Head of the OzonAction Branch, the consultant will carry out the following tasks: TASK A: The preparation of the Kigali HFC implementation plan – Stage I for Saint Kitts & Nevis a) Review and Validate Policy, Legislative, and Institutional Framework

Assess the national ratification status of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments, including obligations relevant to HFC phase-down.
Review existing HFC-related legislation, regulations, import/export licensing and quota systems, and enforcement arrangements.
Assess institutional arrangements, stakeholder responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms supporting implementation of HFC-related policies and activities.
Identify legal, regulatory, institutional, and enforcement gaps and recommend areas requiring strengthening.
Provide an overview of the status of implementation of HCFC and HFC-related projects and incorporate lessons learned into the KIP strategy design. b) Support National Consultants in HFC Surveys and Data Analysis
Develop and provide a methodology for HFC data collection, validation, and analysis.
Provide technical guidance to national consultants and relevant stakeholders on survey implementation, data requirements, assumptions, and reporting approaches.
Validate HFC consumption data by substance and blend for the most recent five-year period.
Establish or estimate the national HFC baseline for compliance using the approved methodology.
Map the sectoral distribution of HFC consumption, including manufacturing, servicing, and, where relevant, imported pre-blended polyols.
Analyze key drivers of HFC consumption trends and explain significant variances.
Validate survey findings against CP and Article 7 reported data and other available information sources. c) Sectoral Assessment
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector, including equipment population, charge sizes, leakage rates, servicing practices, technician workforce, training institutions, and supply chains.
Assess current refrigerant management practices, including recovery, recycling, reclamation, and reuse activities where applicable.
Evaluate the local installation and assembly subsector, where feasible.
Identify sector-specific challenges, opportunities, and barriers to HFC phase-down and adoption of low-GWP alternatives.
Assess technical, institutional, and capacity-building needs required to support implementation of KIP Stage I. d) Develop the Overarching HFC Phase-down Strategy
Formulate a long-term HFC phase-down strategy covering all planned implementation stages through 2045.
Identify priority sectors, applications, and substances for KIP Stage I interventions.
Assess available technology options and feasible pathways for sustained HFC reductions.
Propose reduction steps, implementation approaches, estimated costs, and anticipated climate and energy-efficiency co-benefits.
Define strategic priorities, stakeholder roles, and implementation arrangements necessary to support long-term compliance.
Ensure alignment with MOP Decision XXVIII/2 and MLF cost-effectiveness and eligibility guidelines. e) Prepare the KIP Stage I Document
Develop detailed Stage I components, including regulatory measures, technical assistance, training, investment activities (where applicable), and public awareness initiatives.
Design servicing-sector interventions, including technician training, certification schemes, RRR programmes, customs and enforcement capacity building, illegal trade prevention measures, and end-user support activities.
Define implementation arrangements, stakeholder responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms.
Develop the tranche structure, quantifiable outputs, budgets, implementation schedules, and monitoring indicators.
Ensure consistency between proposed activities, expected outcomes, and HFC reduction targets. f) Prepare Plan of Action for the First Tranche
Develop the detailed implementation plan for the first tranche, including activities, outputs, budgets, timelines, and responsible implementing entities.
Define performance indicators, monitoring arrangements, and reporting requirements.
Establish implementation milestones and disbursement schedules.
Ensure compliance with Multilateral Fund tranche design principles, including verification, reporting, and disbursement conditions. g) Gender Mainstreaming Requirements
Integrate the MLF's mandatory gender mainstreaming requirements and indicators throughout the KIP.
Promote gender-responsive approaches in data collection, stakeholder consultations, training programmes, and project implementation.
Identify opportunities to increase the participation and representation of women across RAC servicing, policy development, and project implementation activities.
Develop measurable gender indicators and monitoring mechanisms for inclusion in the KIP framework. h) Drafting of All Required KIP Documents
Prepare the Executive Summary.
Prepare the full KIP Stage I document (Sections I-V as prescribed in the Guide).
Prepare the project cover sheet and all required tables and supporting documentation.
Draft the Agreement between the Government and the Executive Committee.
Prepare all annexes, including survey tools, sectoral data, stakeholder consultation records, gender indicators, and other supporting information.
Ensure all documents comply with Executive Committee and Multilateral Fund Secretariat guidelines and template requirements.
Following submission, support UNEP in responding to comments from the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and revise the project proposal and supporting documentation, as necessary, based on comments and feedback received. i) Post-Submission Support
Following submission for consideration by the Executive Committee, provide technical support to UNEP in addressing comments from the Multilateral Fund Secretariat.
Revise, update, and finalize the KIP documentation and associated submissions as required to facilitate project approval. TASK B: The preparation of Reports on Inventory of Banks of Waste-Controlled Substances, and the Development of a National Management Plan for ODS disposal in Belize, Grenada, and Saint Kitts & Nevis a) Analysis of Actual and Prospective Inventory of Banks of Waste-Controlled Substances under the Montreal Protocol
Develop and agree on a methodology for data collection, analysis, validation, and projection of banks of waste-controlled substances, in consultation with the NOU, UNEP OzonAction, and national consultants.
Provide technical guidance to national consultants and relevant stakeholders on data collection requirements, parameters, assumptions, and reporting formats.
Compile and analyze available national data and information from previous projects, surveys, and relevant studies.
Establish an inventory of RAC and MAC equipment in the country, including equipment population and associated refrigerant banks.
Assess current practices for recovery, collection, and management of waste-controlled substances during servicing, maintenance, and end-of-life decommissioning of equipment.
Analyze recovery and collection rates of waste-controlled substances and assess associated cost elements.
Quantify actual and potential banks of waste-controlled substances and develop projections based on equipment trends and expected retirement rates.
Review ongoing and completed projects related to refrigerant recovery, recycling, reclamation, or destruction activities and identify lessons learned.
Where applicable, assess opportunities to recover waste-controlled substances from fire suppression systems and foam products.
Validate collected data, assumptions, and inventory results using an appropriate quality assurance and verification methodology. b) Comprehensive Review of the National Legal, Institutional, and Technical Framework for Management of Waste-Controlled Substances Review the national legislative and regulatory framework governing recovery, collection, transportation, storage, recycling, reclamation, and destruction of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol.
Assess import, export, transboundary movement, and trade requirements for waste-controlled substances, including linkages with Basel Convention obligations.
Evaluate current servicing-sector practices and procedures related to the management and handling of waste-controlled substances.
Assess institutional arrangements, stakeholder responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms relevant to the management of waste-controlled substances.
Review existing infrastructure, facilities, and operational capacities for recovery, collection, storage, recycling, reclamation, and disposal of waste-controlled substances.
Evaluate opportunities for integrating waste-controlled substances management within broader hazardous waste management systems, including co-disposal options where feasible.
Assess regional recycling, reclamation, and destruction opportunities, including facilities available in neighboring countries and associated costs.
Identify policy, institutional, technical, financial, and capacity gaps affecting sustainable management of waste-controlled substances.
Where applicable, conduct a similar assessment for waste-controlled substances contained in fire suppression systems and foam products. c) Development of Policy Recommendations and a National Action Plan Incorporating a Sustainable Business Model
Develop policy and regulatory recommendations to strengthen the management of waste-controlled substances throughout their lifecycle.
Conduct stakeholder mapping and define institutional roles, responsibilities, and coordination arrangements required for effective implementation.
Develop a national action plan for the collection, recovery, recycling, reclamation, transport, storage, and disposal of waste-controlled substances.
Design a sustainable business model that considers available waste volumes, national capacities, market conditions, and technological options.
Define key elements of the business model, including stakeholder responsibilities, operational arrangements, cost structures, revenue streams, financing mechanisms, sustainability measures, and risk mitigation approaches.
Assess opportunities to integrate end-of-life appliance decommissioning, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and other circular economy approaches.
Identify synergies with national cooling strategies, HPMP activities, KIP implementation, energy-efficiency initiatives, and other relevant Montreal Protocol obligations.
Where appropriate, incorporate regional recycling, reclamation, and destruction solutions into the proposed business model.
Develop costed proposals for policy development, capacity building, awareness-raising activities, technical assistance measures, and institutional strengthening.
Prepare an implementation roadmap, including timelines, indicative budgets, performance indicators, and monitoring arrangements. d) Preparation of the National Inventory and Management Plan Report
Prepare a comprehensive national report combining the inventory of banks of waste-controlled substances and the national management plan.
Present the inventory methodology, data sources, assumptions, findings, projections, and validation results.
Summarize the legal, institutional, technical, and capacity assessment, including identified challenges and opportunities.
Present policy recommendations, the sustainable business model, and the national action plan with implementation arrangements and budget estimates.
Ensure consistency and alignment with relevant Montreal Protocol obligations, including HPMP, KIP, and related national initiatives.
Prepare the report in accordance with Executive Committee and Multilateral Fund Secretariat guidelines, templates, and reporting requirements.
Revise and finalize the report based on feedback from UNEP, the National Ozone Unit, and relevant stakeholders.
Following submission, support UNEP in responding to comments from the Multilateral Fund Secretariat and revise the report and supporting documentation, as necessary, based on feedback received. TASK C: Technical review of five (5) project/report submissions (KIP project proposals and ODS Disposal Reports) for submission to ExCom-100 and ExCom-101. a) Technical Assistance in the Review of Kigali Implementation Plans (KIP) Stage I project proposals
Review assigned KIP Stage I project documents to assess their completeness, consistency, and compliance with Multilateral Fund and Executive Committee requirements.
Review and assess the policy, legislative, and institutional framework presented in the KIP, including all legislation and regulations related to HCFCs and HFCs.
Verify the status of implementation of HCFC and HFC import/export licensing and quota systems, and assess their adequacy in supporting HFC phase-down objectives.
Review sector assessments, consumption data, baseline calculations, and proposed phase-down strategies.
Evaluate the technical soundness, cost-effectiveness, and justification of proposed activities and interventions.
Review all new project components, implementation arrangements, workplans, performance indicators, and associated budgets.
Provide technical comments and recommendations to strengthen project design and ensure alignment with national commitments and Montreal Protocol requirements. b) Technical Assistance in the Review of Reports on Inventory of Banks of Waste-Controlled Substances and National Management Plans for ODS Disposal
Review reports on the inventory of banks of waste-controlled substances and national management plans for ODS disposal to ensure completeness, consistency, and compliance with Executive Committee guidance.
Assess the accuracy and robustness of methodologies used for data collection, inventory development, projections of waste-controlled substances, and data validation.
Review the policy, legislative, and institutional frameworks related to recovery, collection, transport, storage, recycling, reclamation, destruction, and disposal of waste-controlled substances.
Evaluate analyses of existing infrastructure, institutional arrangements, management practices, and identified gaps and challenges.
Review proposed policy recommendations, national action plans, and sustainable business models for the management of waste-controlled substances.
Assess the technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, implementation arrangements, and budget estimates associated with proposed activities and measures.
Provide technical comments and recommendations to strengthen inventories, management plans, proposed interventions, and associated budgets, while ensuring alignment with Montreal Protocol obligations and related national strategies.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, sustainable development, environmental management, natural sciences, engineering, or any related discipline is required. A first level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience beyond the five (5) years required for the Master’s degree, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs is desirable. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, environmental science, or a related field is required Extensive experience in drafting projects for the Multilateral Fund or similar international mechanisms, particularly related to HPMPs and KIPs, is required Excellent written communication skills in English are required. Knowledge of technical issues of ozone-depleting substances, experience in the implementation of Montreal Protocol activities, and experience in data collection, review, and management at the national level regarding HCFCs, HFCs, or related substances are required. In-depth knowledge of the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) servicing and manufacturing sectors is desirable. Demonstrated ability to integrate gender considerations into technical project design and implementation is desirable. Proven experience working with governments, multilateral organizations and international donors on projects aligned with the objectives of the Montreal Protocol is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for this consultancy. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

International consultant for preparation of KIPs and ODS disposal reports