Technical Advisor - Environmental (Marine Plastics) retainer

Under the general guidance and supervision of the Senior Project Manager and in coordination with the RISU Project Coordinator, the critical functions of the Technical Advisor include the following:

Technical inputs to the SEA-MaP project on marine plastic pollution and relevant subject matters

• Provide updated information on marine plastic pollution, including sources, distribution, impacts, and mitigation strategies.

• Assessing the ecological, social, and economic risks of marine plastic pollution, including impacts on wildlife, habitats, fisheries, and human health.

• Analyze scientific literature, policy documents, and industry reports to stay informed about emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in the field.

• Advise on conceptualizing the activities, bringing in relevant knowledge, examples, and best practices.

• Share information on relevant national plans and frameworks in ASEAN countries and international policies, regulations, and agreements related to plastic pollution and marine conservation for advocating effective governance and policy measures.

• Support in analyzing waste management practices, recycling technologies, and circular economy principles to minimize plastic waste generation and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• Provide expert advice and guidance to SEA-MaP consultants on the design and implementation of deliverables.

• Support collaborating with government agencies, development entities, academia, and industry partners to identify priority areas for intervention and recommend evidence-based solutions.

• Offer technical expertise and support to partners and stakeholders in the project seeking to address marine plastic pollution through capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and educational workshops.

• Support the quality assurance of training materials, manuals, and guidelines on plastic waste management and pollution prevention for diverse audiences.

• Support in reviewing the project's progress by analyzing data on performance indicators

• Provide technical support in developing communication materials, including reports, presentations, and social media content, to communicate research findings, policy recommendations, and success stories to diverse audiences. 

• Support in arranging high-level discussions with government, academia, development entities, activists, bilateral agencies, private sector, and development banks, etc.

• Prepare the scope of work of the various activities and detailed Terms of Reference for the technical deliverables of the project.

• Provide guidance on innovation in packaging/labeling/plastic alternatives, solutions for substituting single-use plastic, etc.

• Develop networks of promising innovators, and arrange grooming and capacity enhancement to prepare them for highly effective international innovation models.  

• Support in planning and implementing community engagement in reducing plastic waste, etc.

• Identify technical criteria and proposal evaluation guidelines, and provide technical support in evaluating the proposals and selecting suitable candidates to implement project activities.

Result Orientation and Quality Assurance: 

• Assure the high-level technical quality of the activities developed by the SEA-MaP Regional Project and their products.

• Provide strategic inputs in the discussions among the RISU (UNOPS), the PMU, the ASEC, and the World Bank. 

• Validate from the technical point of view the knowledge products of the project (documents, background papers, analyses, publications, etc.).

• Provide high-quality technical advisory inputs and advice to UNOPS on any marine plastics technical issues and queries as requested from stakeholders to ensure strong buy-in on proposed methodologies related to the project implementation.

• Provide high-level technical input and presentations on assigned topics/activities and the RISU at meetings, conferences, consultations, etc. 

• Provide scientific advice to implementing partners, or ASEC, to ensure strong buy-in by stakeholders on UNOPS proposed methodologies for running the RISU.

Monitoring process, research, data, and analysis:

• Support in policy-relevant indicators and indicator systems.

• Provide information on environmental data and statistics.

• Technical support to consultants on data analysis, estimation, calculation, and monitoring tools/ methods for Plastic waste management, etc.

Other tasks:

• Provide backstopping technical support to the RISU as requested by the Senior Program Manager/RISU project coordinator on any marine plastics technical issue as required. 

• Any other similar tasks related to providing high-level technical advice to RISU as required by the project team on ASEANs behalf.

     The time frame for the assignment is 1 July 2024 – 30 September 2026.

    Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in relevant disciplines such as Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering/Environmental Management/Marine Ecology/Sustainability Studies/Fisheries/Aquaculture/Sustainable Landscape Management/Policy and Environmental law/Sustainable Financing/Development Investment/Innovation, or similar is required. 

• A Bachelor's degree preferably in the above-mentioned areas with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in programme/project development, research, implementation, and/or management of environmental projects or related fields in combination with the relevant advanced university degree is required.

• Experience in marine plastics-related projects/programs is required, which should preferably include working on relevant regulations and policies related to waste management; recycling, and plastic pollution prevention; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks for reducing plastic pollution; implementation of single-use plastic ban frameworks. Good understanding of plastic life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies; waste characterization techniques; and waste management infrastructure.

• Experience in producing high-quality documents (technical ToR. Guidance notes, editing policy documents, manuals, etc.) is required.

• Experience in working with normative bodies, regional entities, government, non-government actors, the private sector, academia, and the community is desirable.

• Relevant professional experience outside the country of origin is preferred.

• Regional experience in the ASEAN region is a distinct advantage. 

• Prior related experience in the UN system is highly desirable.

 Language:

• Full working knowledge of the English language is required.