Consultant for Verification of HCFC Consumption in Mongolia and Nepal, Bangkok, Thailand At United Nations Environment Programme


Closing date: Thursday, 15 June 2023
Result of ServiceFinal verification audit reports for the annual HCFC consumption in Mongolia for the period of 2020-2022 and in Nepal for the period of 2020-2022 accepted by UNEP and Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund Secretariat.

Work LocationHome-based

Expected duration5.5 months

Duties andResponsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme 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. The Law Division works with international and non-governmental organizations, national and local governments, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of Conventions and international Agreements. UNEP OzonAction Branch under the Law Division is one of the four Implementing Agencies under the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. UNEP through its OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) is managing projects funded by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MLF) in Mongolia and Nepal as its Lead Implementing Agency. At present, UNEP is assisting the National Ozone Units (NOUs) of Nepal and Mongolia to implement their HCFC Phase-out Management Plans Stage II that were approved at the 86th ExCom. Mongolia and Nepal are both considered as Low Volume Consuming (LVCs) Article 5 party under the Montreal Protocol. HPMP Stage II in Mongolia and Nepal target a 100% reduction in HCFC consumption by 2030. This consultancy position supports OzonAction/Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) of the Law Division, Bangkok Duty Station, and reports to the Activity Leaders of CAP team based in Asia and the Pacific Office, who provides implementation support to these countries. The consultant shall conduct verification following the Executive Committee’s Guidelines for the Verification of National HCFC Consumption Targets of Multi-year Agreements. The consultant will be coordinating and reporting to the Montreal Protocol Officer responsible for South Asia Network as well as the ExCom Coordinator, based in OzonAction Branch, Paris. The assignment will be home-based and the consultant should undertake the following activities within agreed timeframe: a) Develop the work plan for conducting verification audit of HCFC consumption, facilitate stakeholder meetings organized by NOUs to inform the stakeholders of the methodology and procedures for conducting verification of HCFC consumption and what cooperation and support would be needed from stakeholders, organize data collection with support from NOU and in coordination with UNEP; b) Review national legislation, policies and procedures on the control and management of ozone depleting substance (ODS) import and export such as: 1. Channel of communication between relevant authorities involved in the operation of quota and licensing system (e.g. NOU and customs); 2. Authorized list of importers/exporters and, where available, distributors; 3. Conditions of issuing licenses; 4. Administrative procedures and documentation; 5. System of monitoring and reporting on exports of ODS; 6. Sanctions or penalties to be imposed on violation of legal regulation; 7. Mechanisms and capacity for prosecution and Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature and Coding Systems in order to identify ODSs and ODS mixtures; 8. Procedures to be applied in case of suspicious shipments; and 9. Sampling or other identification methods used. and conduct assessment of existing licensing and quota system to control HCFC import and export, as well as how it has been implemented, and more specifically: 10. Describe and summarize the process of issuing licenses. Issues to be addressed can include how the quota for a given year is set; who can apply for a quota; who is responsible to grant or refuse the application; what the criteria are to make such a decision; how the decision is communicated to the applicant and other relevant stakeholders; if the process is legally defined in a regulation. It should clarify whether there are only one or several authorities who can issue licenses. It should be clear whether there is a legal basis to refuse licenses to ineligible applicants or to eligible applicants once the quota is exhausted; 11. Describe and summarize the information on administrative procedures, i.e. whether Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature and Coding System of Mongolia and Nepal can differentiate between the different HCFCs (pure and contained in blends) and if HCFC based preblended polyols are also identified. It should also verify whether customs have been provided with a detailed list of HCFCs, HCFC blends and trade names, and whether this list is available and used at the points of entry; and 12. Conduct assessment of the licensing/quota system for import/export control including the monitoring system. This should cover e.g. whether current customs officers at the relevant ports of entry possess the necessary information to enact the controls, whether importers do not ship consignments to the country without having already obtained an import license and similar issues. Concerning the HCFC contained in pre-blended polyols, it should verify whether customs officers have the capacity to identify these imports, and whether they were trained to do so (training, reporting lines). The verification should clarify whether problems like handling atypical events (use of still-valid previous-year licenses, imports deemed to take place at year-end but actually taken place in a new year) are covered by the regulatory set-up in the country. 13. Verify how the licensing/quota system has been enforced for the verification period in the country. c) Review official statistics, original documents on ODS import and export such as contract, licensing, quota, invoice, customs declaration form, sales records, etc maintained by different source e.g. NOU, customs, commerce department, importers, and analyse and cross check all the original and statistical data through interview and on-site visit. Data sources should be collected from various sources: 1. Quotas issued by authority versus actual quotas used; 2. The licenses issued with the imports against these licenses for each license separately (the results can be given in a summary if required by stakeholders, but a case-by-case comparison need to be carried out as a basis). 3. The actual imports verified with the reported data in both the country programme implementation progress report and Article-7 data reports (to the degree relevant at the time of the verification), as well as with the consumption targets specified in MYA Agreements with ExCom. 4. Amounts reported by importers, NOUs, Licensing Departments, Customs etc. Discrepancies, where found, should be investigated and the reason for the discrepancy should be provided in the report. The report should list perceived shortcomings and suggest improvements to the system. d) Prepare a verification audit report of the HCFC consumption based on the above-mentioned reviews in line with the ExCom Guidelines for the Verification of National HCFC Consumption Targets of Multi-year Agreements (MYA). UNEP will then submit the draft to the respective NOUs for their review and observations. The report shall 1. Describe the detailed steps and procedures taken to conduct the verification; 2. Summarize all aspects of national legislation and policies regarding licensing system, process of issuing licenses, information on administrative procedures and assessment of the licensing, quota, import control and monitoring system including those designed to ensure achievement of the consumption targets in the Agreement; 3. Cross-check data collected from different sources, e.g., amounts reported by importers, NOUs, import licensing department, customs etc. Discrepancies, where found, should be investigated and the reason for the discrepancy should be provided in the report; 4. Describe issues and problems encountered while implementing the current import/export licensing in the country (e.g. deviations between data from different sources, showing transfer errors, or establishing that reporting was referring to licensed amounts where actual imports should have been reported, among others). The report should also suggest how these issues and problems could be addressed; and 5. Provide detailed data demonstrating and confirming whether the consumption target in the Agreement was achieved, whether there is existence of an operational licensing and quota system for HCFC imports and exports and whether the system is enforceable and enabling the country to comply with the targets as set out in the MYA Agreements with ExCom. e) Provide clarifications and additional information as required by UNEP and/or the MLF Secretariat during the review process.

Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC: Bachelor’s degree or higher in the area of accounting, science, engineering, environmental policy or other related qualifications required for conducting verification audit. Other academic qualifications in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the Bachelor’s degree. WORKING EXPERIENCE: – At least 5 years of working experience related to Montreal Protocol/Climate Change/Energy, or other related fields. – Working experience on Montreal Protocol or previous successfully implemented country projects (Terminal Phase-out Management Plan (TPMP), Institutional Strengthening Project (IS), HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) Alternatives Survey, Kigali HFC Implementation Plan (KIP) is highly desirable. Prior experience in working with governments in Asia and the Pacific region on data collection and analysis or auditing/verification. – Prior working experience with international organizations, and/or inter-governmental organization at the global, regional and national level is desirable. – The consultant shall mobilize adequate time and resources to carry out the assignment within the agreed time frame and shall demonstrate a strong commitment on the assignment. – Knowledge of the licensing and quota system to control trade of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol is desirable. SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: – Demonstrated skills in data analysis, developing reports, stakeholder consultations at regional/national level is required. – Knowledge of the licensing and quota system to control trade of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol is desirable.

LanguagesFluency in English. Experience in writing high quality reports for multilateral environment projects is desirable.

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.

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