Waste Management Research Consultant at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations’ global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Waste Management Research Consultant

Location: Home-Based, Nigeria
Additional Category: Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Oct-2020
Duration of Initial Contract: 20 Working Days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 20 Working Days

Background
Five months after its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus pandemic continues to escalate with global confirmed cases now surpassing 9 million and case fatalities over 470,000.

On 27th February 2020, Nigeria confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and the situation has since rapidly evolved. At the time of writing, confirmed cases in Nigeria stand at 20,244, including 518 case. Active cases spread across over 400 LGAs. Of particular concern is the rapid spread of COVID-19 in states such as Kano, Lagos, Borno and the FCT which together account for almost 70% of all confirmed cases in the country. COVID-19 is a clear threat to the global health security including Nigeria. It is now critical that response activities are geared towards bridging the gaps in the weak health system by building long-term capacity, bearing in mind potential threats of outbreaks (emerging and re-emerging) in the future.

The fact that the country still has major gaps in its subnational preparedness, underlines the need for rapid action at State level to support national efforts to contain the outbreak. In addition to the various containment measures that are being enforced in the country, the proper treatment and disposal of waste generated by health care activities, including the use of a broad range of materials such as needles and syringes to soiled dressings, body parts, diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials, is vital not only to limit potentially exposing health care workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to COVID-19, but to also ensure that the rise in medical waste is not contaminating the environment and increasing the spread of other diseases in the future. It is therefore essential that all medical waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed of safely.

Rationale:

• As part of its support to the Government of Nigeria in its efforts and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP Nigeria seeks to conduct primary research to better understand the waste management structure, procedures and capacities in three high burden COVID-19 states including Lagos, Kano and Plateau.
• The research is envisioned to provide a detailed understanding of the waste management mechanisms in the above mentioned States, assess the scope of the health waste problem as it relates to COVID-19, the capacities of the waste management plants as well as emerging health waste risks and existing response capacities in selected states in the context of COVID-19.
• The IC will work with the UNDP team and will liaise with focal points within relevant ministries and sectors to undertake the research and to collect relevant data.

Duties and Responsibilities
The IC will undertake the following tasks:

• Conduct research and produce a report detailing waste disposal mechanisms from labs to waste management plants in three target States including an assessment of the scope of the health waste problem as it relates to COVID-19.
• The IC will undertake primary and secondary data collection, including background research of plant locations as well as interviews (representative sample) with plant managers to collect key indicators as well as to identify specific challenges and potential/emerging health waste risks and existing response capacities in context of COVID-19. Based on the research and primary data collected, the IC will produce a report that details the waste management procedure from labs to waste management plants as well as an analysis of the key indicators, potential areas of risks bought about by COVID-19 related waste as well as recommendations on how to mitigate the identified risks.
• Develop a database of waste management plants and their locations in Lagos, Kano and Jos. Through research and interviews with plant managers stated above, the IC will collate a database that includes geocoordinates of plant locations as well as a compiling and calculation of key performance indicators including, but not limited to those related to personnel, physical, operational, environmental and financial indicators. In addition to indicators for instance, daily load, discharge efficiency, percentage of hazardous waste processed, pollution and emission indicators, the IC will include challenges faced by the plant.
• The IC will conduct a comprehensive research of the waste management system and infrastructure from labs to waste management plants in the three States identified above.
• The research will also assess the scope of the health waste problem resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The IC will also develop survey tools and implement them as part of the research methodology.
• The indicators should also reflect COVID-19 specific waste management indicators and challenges.

Expected Outcome/ Deliverables
The Consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• A report detailing the waste disposal mechanisms from labs to waste management plants in three target states.
• A dataset of waste management plants, including locations, key performance indicators, method of disposal of COVID-19 related waste to monitor emerging health waste risks and existing response capacities in selected states in the context of COVID-19 Response
• The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Nigeria Environment and Energy team lead.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in conducting quantitative research, including gathering of primary data and analysis thereof;
• Strong understanding of the waste management system and infrastructure in Nigeria;
• Previous research or practical experience in the waste management sector in the country;
• Proven experience writing procedure documents and analysis reports for an international audience;
• Excellent command of English

Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism
• Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team
• Ability to produce high-quality research work under pressure of tight schedules and timelines.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Industrial Chemical, Engineering, Environment Sustainability – 25 points
• At least 5 years proven experience conducting primary research, including quantitative research as well as in the area of waste management or a closely related field – 45 points
• Proven experience in collecting, analysing and reporting using primary data– 30 points

Deadline: 28th September, 2020 (Midnight New York, USA).

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
• 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.