Project Specialist – Circular Economy and Chemicals Management

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability. 

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first. 

The Project Specialist, Chemicals Management will be a part of the Action for Climate & Environment (ACE) Unit of UNDP India. Within the Unit, the specialist will be responsible for leading the implementation of the vertical pillar ‘Circular Economy and Chemicals Management’. Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Senior Advisor and Team Leader, ACE Unit, the Project Specialist- Circular Economy and Chemicals Management will lead and coordinate the implementation of all projects on thematic area on Circular Economy and Chemicals Management such as Plastic Waste Management, E-Waste and Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage-III S/he synergizes with other programmes within the portfolio under the thematic areas of Climate Adaptation, Biodiversity and National Resource Management (NRM), Resilient Communities and Infrastructure, Climate Policy and Energy Transition. S/he will also collaborate with other policy and programme portfolios within UNDP including State Outreach & SDG Integration, Partnerships, Health and Governance, Inclusive Growth, Accelerator Labs, Communications, UNDP HQ & Bangkok Regional Hub to deliver a collaborative and harmonized joint UNDP programme. S/he also liaises with other UN agencies, bilateral agencies, government officials, technical experts, multi- and bi-lateral donors, and civil society to implement the integrated UNDP country programme. S/he provides technical and strategic advice to the government and other partners and contributes to identification of new programme opportunities within his/ her area.

Action for Climate & Environment (ACE) Unit of UNDP India provides thought leadership on cross-cutting environment and sustainable development issues in India, to ensure that UNDP’s mandate of convening development partners in support of the national development agenda is amplified by internal knowledge, research, and stand-out policy advice and programme implementation, informed by a commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Project Specialist will be responsible for leading and coordination of executing the projects in circular economy, such as plastic waste management, e-waste and chemicals management such as those under the Montreal Protocol, Stockholm Convention, Minamata Convention, Basel Convention and Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). Additionally, the role involves overseeing day- to-day project management, budget management and regular monitoring of project results and risks, including social and environmental risks at country level. The Project Specialist will ensure a coherent programme implementation strategy to ensure synergies among projects and maximise the overall impact.

The incumbent will perform duties with respect to the following to ensure effective implementation of the projects: 

Management and implementation of projects:

• Managing and coordinating the implementation of the respective activities based on the relevant project documents, including, as needed, supervision and guidance of other project staff, consultants and experts with a view to achieving project results.
• Ensure consistency and integration among the various projects’ activities provided or funded by various sources in close cooperation with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Developing comprehensive/detailed project work-plans that include all project activities and roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders and setting-out corresponding milestones
• Provide technical assistance for the design, implementation, and closure of ongoing Montreal Protocol projects i.e. HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) Stage 3, HFC demonstration projects, Kigali Implementation.
• Assuming responsibilities in line with the office Internal Control Framework and act as a `first authority` for Project transactions.
• Provide project assurance to the GEF priorities in chemicals and waste focal area with focus on e-waste management and plastic waste management.
• Monitoring the progress of implementation of project activities and key event schedules observing the work-plans and set deadlines including monitoring of the financial resources and accounting to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
• Ensuring adherence of project activities to the existing financial, procurement and administrative processes that are in line with prevailing UNDP rules and regulations and, at the same time, observing the project timelines.
• Managing project tracking in Quantum in accordance with UNDP procedures.
• Management of project team to ensure the team operates in a productive manner, through a clear division of labour, setting of specific annual goals and targets for all team members including annual performance planning at the start of each year and performance evaluation at mid-year and at the end of each calendar year.
• Identification and sourcing of necessary technical expertise and support from UNDP Country Office, local and international, and oversee the recruitment of experts and service providers

Monitoring and reporting of projects:

• Organize independent third-party verification to ensure that the implementation of project activities is being carried out in accordance with compliance requirements. Prepare and support audit of projects and comply with audit recommendations.
• Managing and monitoring project risks initially identified, submitting information on the new risks and possible mitigating measures to the Project Board for consideration and updating the status of these risks by maintaining a Project Risk Log
• Monitor performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones of the projects.
• Prepare reports of relevant project(s) progress and issues in implementation of the projects.
• Ensure projects compliance with internal quality assurance (QA) protocols and timely update on internal system.

Support in creation of strategic partnerships and collaborations with concerned line ministries/ departments, research and academic institutions, private sector and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy:

• Effectively highlight UNDP’s strengths and significant contributions to various stakeholders, including national and sub-national government partners and private sector.
• Contribute to pipeline proposals on chemicals and waste management and circular economy in alignment with global and national priorities.
• Track and report on mobilized resources.

Facilitation of knowledge building and dissemination among key stakeholders:

• Maintaining strong relationships with the implementing partners, and other relevant partners and donors
• Facilitate South-South exchange programs to provide training and exposure to alternative technology in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector as well as in the management of chemical and plastic waste.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices derived from the project activities.
• Develop/finalize communication/publicity materials for the projects e.g. publications, awareness videos, posters, brochures, newsletters, etc.
• Identifying opportunities for deepening the cooperation and recommending adequate approaches to dealing with different stakeholders based on information on all relevant stakeholders gathered during projects’ implementation
• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform any other tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the Senior Advisor and Team Leader, ACE, UNDP

Gender mainstreaming and leaving no one behind

• Ensure the principles of gender equality and social inclusion are effectively reflected in all project activities
• Coordinate with UNDP Country Office and respective Project Management Units on preparation, finalization and implementation of gender mainstreaming strategies and action plan.
• Undertake gender responsive capacity building programmes for key stakeholder groups.
• Monitor progress in implementation of the project Gender Action Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan ensuring that targets are fully met, and the reporting requirements are fulfilled.
• Oversee/develop/coordinate implementation of all gender-related work.
• Review the Gender Action Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan annually, and update and revise corresponding management plans as necessary.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
 

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management

• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
• Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks 

Digital & Innovation

• Data analysis: Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Chemicals and Waste: Ozone and climate-friendly technologies
• Nature, Climate and Energy: Chemicals and Waste management: practical application