Description

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

Plastic pollution is deeply connected to the planetary crises of biodiversity loss and climate change with negative impacts across the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP features the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy – with a significant portfolio relevant to plastics and solid waste management.

The position will be located in the Chemicals and Waste Hub of BPPS. Sound chemical and waste management could reduce the risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals and protect the human health and environment. UNDP Montreal Protocol/Chemicals Unit focuses on providing policy and technical advisory, design and implementation oversight to the chemical projects funded by GEF, MLF, and bilateral donors. Currently, UNDP supports 85 countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol, Stockholm convention, Minamata convention, as well as strategic approach of international chemical management (SAICM). UNDP has been on the forefront of efforts to advance the Kigali Amendment to tackle the climate change and improve cooling efficiency by partnering with developing countries, MLF, GEF, K-CEP, CCAC, Cool Coalition, bilateral donors and private sectors.

Amid the growing public concern for plastic pollution, the demand for UNDP’s support in tackling plastic pollution is increasing. To ensure global coherence, streamline the overall plastics portfolio and support local to global actions towards a future free of plastic pollution, UNDP launched its Global Plastics Offer.

The Global Plastics Offer takes a whole-of-society approach to address plastic pollution holistically and along its entire value chain. Recognizing the limits of recycling and other downstream solutions, UNDP prioritizes activities stopping plastic pollution at the source, including the following measures:

Eliminate: Supporting measures to drastically reduce plastic production and consumption to stem the tide of plastic pollution.
Innovate: Investing in new approaches and technologies along the value chain to address our overuse of plastics and boost environmentally sound alternatives and models.
Circulate: Supporting a transition to a circular approach with sustainability and human well-being at its core, where disposal is minimized and materials are reused, repaired, or recycled.
Waste management: Boosting sound plastic waste management and whole-of-society clean-up activities in leakage hotspots to reduce plastic leakage into the environment, raise awareness and trigger behavioral change.

UNDP’s Plastics Offer focuses on four interconnected intervention areas to support governments in designing effective solutions:

Policies, regulations and coordination
Innovation and technology
Waste management systems
Capacity development, knowledge management, communications and networking

UNDP is seeking a Policy and Technical Specialist to provide technical assistance and policy support, and boost thought leadership/advocacy through effective knowledge management and communications activities to support the implementation of the Global Plastics Offer.

Duties and Responsibilities

Policy and research support (30%)

Develop demand-driven knowledge products, including reports, guidance notes, policy briefs, event briefs, case studies, and training materials to boost knowledge exchange and support the implementation of global programs;
Follow the negotiations on a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution and provide timely updates and support;
Monitor and report policy changes related to plastics in target countries;
Research policies and regulations and best practices across different countries;
Identify policy gaps, provide policy support and prepare policy briefs;
Network with potential partners and donors aligned with UNDP’s global strategy.

Technical support and portfolio development (30%)

Keep abreast of latest development, dialogues and solutions on plastic pollution, and identify UNDP’s roles and contribution;
Provide technical assistance to eligible Country Offices to launch and develop plastics projects;
Identify potential donor and partner interests, including private sector and foundations to support the implementation of UNDP’s Global Plastics Offer;
Keep track of new plastics projects across UNDP’s portfolio;
Develop innovative global program ideas and concept notes for submission to various funding windows, including bilateral, multilateral and private foundations;
Respond to country offices’ requests for support and facilitate design and development of plastics portfolio.

Knowledge management, communications and advocacy (40%)

Develop and execute strategic knowledge, communications and advocacy campaigns;
Monitor corporate annual progress of Plastics Offer implementation and produce annual report and communications materials;
Produce communications, advocacy, and thought leadership materials, including blogs, videos, graphics, social media assets, and global campaigns;
Plan, organize and prepare the organization key side events and meetings to position Plastics Offer work of UNDP
Monitor current trends and topics related to plastics and identify thought leaders and influencers in the public discussion;
Plan and execute virtual and in-person consultations, workshops, and webinars with technical experts and other key stakeholders;
Engage and provide updates to the global Community of Practice on Plastics;
Develop and maintain UNDP’s public-facing website on the Global Plastics Offer and UNDP’s internal-facing Plastics Treaty Portal.

Institutional Arrangement

The Technical Specialist will work in Global Plastics Offer unit under BPPS Chemicals and Waste Hub;
The Technical Specialist will report to, and be directly supervised by, the Lead, UNDP Global Plastics Taskforce, based in New York, USA;
The Technical Specialist will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
The Technical Specialist will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, assignment specific software, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business development Human centered design Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspectives in all steps of problem-solving process.
Business development Collective intelligence design Ability to bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, andtechnology to design services or solution.
Business management Communications

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Digital & Innovation Data Analysis Ability to extract, analyze and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
Business management Knowledge generation Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business managemnet Partnership development Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Business management Portfolio management Ability to select, prioritize, and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Required Skills and Experience
Min. Education requirements

Master’s or equivalent degree in environmental science, international development, political science, international relations, public relations, public or social policy or a related field.

Min. years of relevant work experience Five years of experience working on strategy, thought leadership, policy advocacy, knowledge management, and/or technical aspects related to plastics and waste management, environment, and/or sustainable development.
Required skills

Experience in plastics, chemicals, and/or waste management issues;
Knowledge management and communications approaches within a global, decentralized organization;
Experience with development planning processes and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply strategic and/or practical situations;
Experience engaging with other agencies/parties;
Knowledge of various programme information for research to provide recommendation and guidance to management;
Policy formulation, project development and implementation experience;
Excellent research, writing and analytical skills.

Desired skills

Knowledge of other UN official languages is desired.

Required Language(s)

Excellent command of written and spoken English