Result of Service

The consultant shall duly perform his/her obligations under this Terms of Reference and will work in close collaboration with the UN-Habitat’s operational and technical teams.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

Ten (10) months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society, and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean – ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Agency puts emphasis in developing and managing activities in the host country. Indeed, for the past years, UN-Habitat has expanded its portfolio in Brazil by working with the three tiers of government to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative, and socially fairer urban economic, social, and environmental policies. UN-Habitat has initiated a project with the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro (GERJ) aimed at strengthening urban resilience in the State of Rio de Janeiro based on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the principles of the New Urban Agenda. The Inclusive and Sustainable Rio project supports the State in achieving urban prosperity while implementing global agendas for sustainable urban development. In particular, the proposal focuses on increasing urban resilience through the engagement of civil society to promote inclusion within the climate agenda of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The revision of the State Solid Waste Plan of Rio de Janeiro (PERS-RJ) is part of the scope of this project and constitutes a strategic instrument for strengthening the state policy on solid waste, in alignment with national guidelines and international sustainable development agendas. The process involves the preparation of an updated diagnosis, the development of scenarios, and the definition of strategies, actions, targets, and implementation instruments, considering the territorial, institutional, and socio-environmental diversity of the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro State. It adopts an integrated approach with the participation of state agencies, municipalities, public consortia, the productive sector, waste picker cooperatives, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. To properly implement the above-mentioned project, a Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements Consultant is required to contribute to the review of the Rio de Janeiro State Solid Waste Plan (PERS-RJ), focusing on the territorial, institutional and operational analysis of solid waste management systems and on the structuring of regionalization strategies, intermunicipal arrangements and territorial implementation models within the State’s solid waste management framework. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements Consultant reports to the Head of Brazil Office, who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities The Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements Consultant will support the implementation of the project and its activities with the following responsibilities: a) Develop and implement the Technical Work Plan for the consultancy, in alignment with the overall project timeline and the methodological guidelines defined by the Project Coordination. b) Contribute to the preparation of the territorial and institutional diagnostic of solid waste management systems in the State of Rio de Janeiro, considering service organization patterns, infrastructure distribution, waste generation dynamics and territorial specificities. c) Conduct diagnostic analyses of territorial arrangements for solid waste management, including spatial organization of services, logistical conditions, infrastructure availability, scale factors and operational interdependencies among municipalities. d) Map and analyze the territorial distribution of waste generation, treatment, recovery, and final disposal infrastructure, as well as supporting operational facilities relevant to solid waste management systems in the State. e) Assess existing intermunicipal arrangements for solid waste management, including public consortia, cooperation agreements and other forms of associated service provision, identifying institutional characteristics, operational performance, limitations and replication potential. f) Identify and characterize territorial groupings and regional arrangements with potential for regionalized organization of solid waste management systems, based on technical, operational, institutional and territorial criteria. g) Analyze the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Plan (PMetGIRS) and its interfaces with broader State territorial dynamics, including opportunities for integration, complementarities and potential overlaps with other regional arrangements. h) Assess the territorial and operational feasibility of alternative regionalization models, including associated service provision arrangements, concessions, public-private partnerships and hybrid models, considering scale, logistics, infrastructure location and waste flows. i) Analyze the relationship between waste generation centers, existing infrastructure, and possible territorial configurations for treatment, recovery, final disposal, and reverse logistics interfaces. j) Produce technical inputs to support the definition of regionalization scenarios, territorial criteria, governance arrangements and implementation models applicable to solid waste management systems in the State. k) Contribute to the definition of guidelines, targets, indicators and monitoring mechanisms related to regional organization and intermunicipal arrangements within the scope of PERS-RJ. l) Work in an integrated manner with the other technical components of the project, ensuring methodological consistency, analytical alignment, and coherence among the different components of the Plan. m) Provide technical support to participatory processes and strategic activities related to the Plan review process, including regional workshops, seminars, public hearings and technical meetings, if required and in accordance with project planning. n) Ensure technical quality, methodological consistency, and adequate systematization of the products, territorial analyses, maps, datasets, and information developed within the scope of the consultancy. o) Present partial results, analytical matrices, territorial assessments, maps, technical notes, and other intermediate inputs whenever requested by the Project Coordination. p) Participate in selected field activities or in-person technical activities in the State of Rio de Janeiro, if required and in accordance with project planning. q) Participate in periodic technical meetings, preferably virtually and, if required, in person, as requested by the Project Coordination. The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities indicated by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE, from UNDSS, is required to be completed during the first month of employment. The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security and should familiarize him/herself with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs / Work Assignment The Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements Consultant shall assist the implementation of the project, according to the stated responsibilities and the delivery of the following products: Product 1 – Technical Work Plan Description: Product 1 shall include: (i) methodological approach for territorial, institutional and operational analysis aimed at supporting regionalization strategies for solid waste management systems in the State, explicitly defining technical criteria, analytical scope, data sources and scope limitations; (ii) definition of territorial, operational and institutional criteria for the identification of potential regional arrangements, intermunicipal groupings and territorial implementation models; (iii) identification of relevant databases, geospatial information sources, territorial evidence and analytical inputs required for the development of territorial and institutional analyses; (iv) structure and scope of the consultancy’s technical products, including the detailing of expected analytical content, intermediate deliverables and technical interfaces with complementary analyses developed within the project; (v) implementation schedule for activities, including delivery milestones, technical validation moments and interfaces with the overall project timeline; (vi) strategy for technical articulation with the other project workstreams, aiming to ensure methodological consistency, analytical complementarity and integration of territorial inputs into the broader planning framework of PERS-RJ; (vii) preliminary identification of information gaps, analytical challenges and critical territorial aspects relevant to the development of the diagnostic and subsequent strategic proposition stages. The Work Plan may be adjusted throughout implementation, subject to validation by the Project Coordination, without changes to the contractual scope. Expected delivery date: 30 days after contract signature. Product 2 – Technical Diagnostic Report on Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements for Solid Waste Management in the State of Rio de Janeiro Description: Product 2 shall include: (i) characterization of the territorial distribution of waste generation and its relationship with regional dynamics, demographic patterns and territorial organization of service provision; (ii) mapping and analysis of existing infrastructure related to treatment, recovery, final disposal, sorting and supporting operational systems, considering territorial distribution, logistical conditions and infrastructure adequacy; (iii) analysis of waste flows, logistical conditions and operational interdependencies relevant to territorial organization and service integration; (iv) assessment of existing institutional arrangements, including public consortia, cooperation agreements and other associated management models, considering governance structures, operational conditions and implementation challenges; (v) analysis of the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Plan (PMetGIRS) and its interfaces with broader State territorial arrangements, including complementarities, integration opportunities and potential overlaps; (vi) identification and characterization of territorial groupings with potential for regionalized organization of solid waste management systems; (vii) identification of territorial, institutional and operational bottlenecks affecting efficiency, integration and implementation capacity of regional arrangements; (viii) systematization of technical evidence and analytical inputs to support the construction of regionalization scenarios and strategic territorial proposals within the scope of PERS-RJ. This product containing the diagnostic analysis of territorial and institutional arrangements related to solid waste management systems in the State of Rio de Janeiro, based on secondary data, geospatial information, institutional information and technical inputs produced throughout the project. Expected delivery date: 120 days after contract signature. Product 3 – Strategic Analysis, Scenarios and Structuring Proposals for Regionalization and Intermunicipal Arrangements within PERS-RJ Description: Product 3 shall include: (i) comparative analysis of alternative regionalization models, including public consortia, associated service provision arrangements, concessions, public-private partnerships and hybrid institutional arrangements; (ii) assessment of territorial and operational feasibility of alternative regionalization models, considering scale factors, infrastructure location, logistical conditions and waste flows; (iii) development of prospective regionalization scenarios, considering optimal territorial scales, infrastructure requirements, governance arrangements and implementation conditions; (iv) proposal of technical criteria for delimitation of regions, service areas and territorial implementation units; (v) proposal of governance arrangements, institutional models and coordination mechanisms applicable to intermunicipal solid waste management systems; (vi) articulation of proposed regionalization scenarios with reverse logistics systems, recycling chains, infrastructure needs and broader territorial implementation strategies; (vii) systematization of strategic technical inputs to support subsequent planning and implementation stages of PERS-RJ. This product shall deliver strategic analysis and the development of scenarios and structuring proposals for regional organization of solid waste management systems in the State of Rio de Janeiro, considering territorial, institutional and operational dimensions. Expected delivery date: 210 days after contract signature. Product 4 – Technical Inputs for Actions, Targets, Indicators and Implementation Arrangements for Regionalization within PERS-RJ Description: Product 4 shall include: (i) proposal of strategic actions and priority measures aimed at strengthening regional organization and intermunicipal cooperation for solid waste management systems in the State; (ii) definition of indicative targets, technical parameters and territorial benchmarks related to regionalization, governance arrangements and implementation capacity; (iii) proposal of indicators and monitoring mechanisms to assess implementation progress, territorial integration, operational performance and effectiveness of regional arrangements over time; (iv) identification of implementation arrangements and enabling conditions necessary for operationalization of proposed territorial strategies, including governance mechanisms, institutional coordination arrangements and complementary implementation instruments; (v) technical recommendations for integration of regionalization strategies with municipal systems, reverse logistics arrangements, recycling chains and broader State solid waste management strategies; (vi) consolidation of technical inputs to support incorporation of regionalization strategies, implementation arrangements and monitoring frameworks into PERS-RJ. This product shall contain structured inputs to support the incorporation of regionalization strategies and intermunicipal arrangements into the strategic planning and implementation framework of PERS-RJ. Expected delivery date: 270 days after contract signature.

Qualifications/special skills

Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering (with emphasis in Sanitation), Environmental Engineering, Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, Architecture and Urbanism, Economics, Public Policy, Regional Development, Environmental Management, or related fields is required.
Postgraduate degree (Lato Sensu or Stricto Sensu) in Territorial Planning, Regional Planning, Sanitation, Environmental Engineering, Public Policy, Regional Development, Urban Studies, Governance, Infrastructure Planning, or related fields is required, or additional five (5) years of relevant experience to the post, beyond the requirement. Work experience
Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional experience in projects, programmes, public policies or technical consultancies related to territorial planning, regionalization of public services, sanitation, solid waste management, infrastructure planning, intermunicipal governance, or related fields is required.
Proven experience in the preparation, review or technical support to strategic planning instruments in Brazil, including solid waste management plans, sanitation plans, territorial diagnostics or equivalent public policy instruments, with familiarity with institutional, territorial and regulatory conditions applicable to the State of Rio de Janeiro, is required.
Proven experience in territorial and institutional analysis applicable to infrastructure, sanitation, solid waste management or environmental service systems, including regional arrangements, service areas, operational logistics, governance models or intermunicipal cooperation, is required.
Experience in institutional articulation with public authorities, public consortia, regulatory entities, service providers or other stakeholders involved in regionalized public service provision arrangements is required.
Experience related to the structure, implementation or assessment of public consortia, intermunicipal cooperation arrangements or regionalized service provision models is desirable.
Experience in geospatial analysis, territorial data interpretation or analytical articulation with georeferenced information systems is desirable.
Experience related to metropolitan governance arrangements, territorial integration strategies, logistical systems, infrastructure location, or territorial operational planning is desirable.
Experience working with international organizations, cooperation projects or multi-stakeholder institutional initiatives is desirable. Skills
Strong analytical and technical writing skills for the preparation of reports, diagnostics, territorial assessments, analytical matrices, and technical recommendations are required.
Ability to analyze territorial arrangements, governance structures, geospatial information and operational models applicable to solid waste management systems is required.
Demonstrated ability to work with institutional stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams involved in territorial planning, intermunicipal arrangements and governance processes is required.
Strong organizational skills, time management and good computer skills in Windows environments, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, Microsoft Teams and web-based research tools, are required. Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrated experience in institutional environments, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and technical advisory work related to environmental governance, sustainability or public policy is required.
Planning and Organization: Ability to work in a professional and responsible manner, manage competing priorities efficiently, and deliver high-quality outputs within established deadlines is required.
Communication: Ability to write clearly and effectively, communicate technical information to different audiences, listen actively, interpret messages correctly and share relevant information appropriately is required.
Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, demonstrate leadership when appropriate, contribute to consensus-building and respect diversity is required. Knowledge Management
The person must know the processes, procedures, and norms of UN-Habitat, to guarantee an adequate quality of the activities described above, following the standards of the organization.
The person will propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the activities related to the project development.
The person must know the file of the Office, work with it, and ensure its proper maintenance, accessibility for all staff, and due updating.
The person will prepare databases related to the project running.
The person will make sure that all relevant technical information will be adequately shared with the correspondent staff.
The person will ensure that all produced material will be fit-for-purpose and delivered, in an organized way, for posterior consultation and use of the Agency.
The person will only share the information produced with the team agency, assuring the privacy of the content.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, and Spanish is the working language of the Regional Office.

For the post advertised, fluency in Portuguese is required. Working knowledge of English and Spanish is desirable.

Additional Information

Travel details: The consultant must be available to travel to the places related to the activities in the country, if requested by the Head of Brazil Office. Missions will be coordinated and financed by UN-Habitat, according to the United Nations travel rules and guidelines. Remuneration LICA 5 (part-time 56%) – BRL: 80.000,00 (Total net amount) UNOPS Salary Scale The consultant will receive a total amount of BRL: 80.000,00, according to the following schedule:

Payment 1 [10%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 1 (BRL: 8.000,00)
Payment 2 [20%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 2 (BRL: 16.000,00)
Payment 3 [30%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 3 (BRL: 24.000,00)
Payment 4 [40%]: Upon delivery and approval of Product 4 (BRL: 32.000,00) Notes Appointment against this post is on local basis and only nationals from Brazil or external candidates who hold a permanent visa in Brazil may apply. The extension of this contract is subject to availability of funds and/or performance. Any contract extension is not automatic. It is required for all the curricular information to be inserted in the system, which may take a few hours. Only complete applications in English will be considered. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications should be submitted through INSPIRA and must include all documents required at the system, please be ready to include the following information at the “Candidate Profile” (CP) at Inspira:
Cover memo (maximum 1 page)
Educational Background (incl. dates)
Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months)
Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments
Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.)* * Please note that Internships, part-time and voluntary work count as 50%. In addition to it, note experience not relevant to the position will not be considered. All applications should be submitted to: Inspira UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning people or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org.

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.