Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead

Result of ServiceThe UNEP's Latin America and the Caribbean Office is located in Panama City, Panama and has offices in Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico and Uruguay. The UNEP Country Office in Brazil is a key development partner of the Brazilian government and supports national and sub-national public and private sector institutions and civil society to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive society by creating a new relationship between people and nature, and between economic growth and environmental sustainability. The objective of this term of reference is to hire a professional who meets the requirements to act as Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead for the Pollution Pilar. According to UNEP MTS 2022 -2025, the adverse effects of pollution on the environment and human health can be substantially reduced by implementing the existing international frameworks, strengthening the scientific basis of policy and decision making, and fostering sustainable, resource-efficient innovations and capacity through which harmful chemicals are contained and their use reduced and phased out. Under the overall supervision of the UNEP Brazil Office Representative, the Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead will be an integral part of the UNEP Brazil Office team, the Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead shall be responsible for supporting and overseeing pollution-related policies and projects in Brazil. The incumbent will enhance relationships with national stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society organizations, ensuring that UNEP’s Pollution Action priorities are effectively integrated into national frameworks. The Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead will collaborate closely with UNEP Divisions and the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office to ensure the effective planning and implementation of the Pollution Action portfolio in Brazil. The Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead will facilitate stakeholder coordination, contribute to policy formulation, and contribute to the development of new projects and initiatives that reinforce UNEP’s role in pollution prevention, chemicals and waste management, circular economy, and sustainable resource use. The selected consultant is required to ensure full compliance with UNEP programming, financial, procurement, and administrative regulations, and implement effective internal control systems. The Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead will be supervised by the UNEP Brazil Office Representative and will work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, at the UNEP Brazil Office in Brasília, Brazil. Under the supervision of UNEP Brazil Representative, the Chemicals and Waste Policy Lead will undertake the following tasks: • Contribute to the development of the Brazil Country Programme, aligning it with the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2025 and its related Programme of Work, ensuring the incorporation of pollution prevention, sustainable chemicals management, circular economy, and food systems sustainability into national policies and strategies. • Identify opportunities to develop new partnerships and projects that advance pollution reduction, promote circular economy solutions, strengthen chemicals management frameworks, and foster sustainable food systems and food waste prevention. • Review UNEP relevant documents and reports and incorporate main conclusions and inputs that fit into the UNEP work in the country. • Engage with national stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, civil society, and research institutions, to foster collaboration on pollution prevention, circular economy innovations, and sustainable food systems. • Monitor and analyze emerging global and regional trends in pollution management, circularity, sustainable food systems, and food waste prevention to provide evidence-based recommendations for national policymaking. • Facilitate technical discussions, public awareness campaigns, and policy dialogues on pollution-related issues, including sustainable chemicals management, circular food systems, and innovative waste reduction strategies. • Coordinate technical discussions and prepare minutes of the meetings with partners. • Follow activities and studies conducted by national researchers, partner and non-partners institutions, as a way to be updated on science-based knowledge produced in Brazil as key inputs for the national and international discussions and dialogues. • Contribute to conducting an internal and national assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with Pollution Action in Brazil, aligning with the desired outcomes of the UNEP Mid-Term Strategy. Maintain regular contact with UNEP Latin America and Caribbean Office Sub Coordinators, UNEP technical divisions to follow-up and keep the programme country portfolio in line with other global UNEP initiatives in the field. • Participate in workshops, seminars, meetings and other events, when requested. • Contribute to policy development through active involvement in reviewing and analyzing issues and trends, conducting evaluations, and undertaking research activities and studies. • Undertake survey initiatives, design data collection tools; review, analyze and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions. • Prepare various written outputs, e.g. briefings, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Contribute substantively to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., by proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, and assisting in the preparation of documents and presentations. Undertake outreach activities, conduct training workshops, seminars, make presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Participate in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries. • Contribute to the UNEP Brazil Country Office's engagement in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) by assisting in the prioritized environment topics. • With the collaboration of Project Officers, liaise with UNEP divisions and sub regional coordinators to gather inputs for the country programming document. Work LocationBrasilia, Brazil Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC: - Bachelor’s degree in sustainable development, environmental sciences, natural resource management, biology, chemistry or related field is required. - Post graduation course in sustainable development, environmental sciences, natural resource management, biology, chemistry or related field is desirable. - Master’s degree in sustainable development, environmental sciences, natural resource management, biology, chemistry or related field is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: - At least two (2) years of relevant experience working with project management, sustainable development, advocacy, policy development or environmental management is required. - Experience and understanding of UN Approach on the triple planetary crisis is desirable. - Experience in working with the UN System is desirable. - Experience in working with multiple stakeholders and intergovernmental processes is desirable. - Experience in working with government of Brazil priorities is desirable. - Knowledge of chemicals, pollution and/or waste management is desirable. Languages- Fluency in English is required. - Fluency in Portuguese is required . Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.