Posting Title: Consultant – Municipal Waste Management
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Duty Station: TUNIS
Posting Period: 30 August 2023 – 08 September 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-United Nations Human Settlements Programme-216999-Consultant
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Result of ServiceGiven the need to deepen knowledge of the plastic waste management sector in Libya, the consultant will support UN-Habitat to implement the project in order to assest of the current state of art of plastic waste pollution and management, from collection to sorting and recycling, in target municipalities. This would shed light on relevant private and public stakeholders, including enterprises, community-led organizations/ initiatives (also in the informal sector), to identify existing and missing actors of the plastic waste value chain, operating capacities (including available/ missing infrastructures, equipment and technologies to sort and recycle plastic waste), business development challenges and needs. The assessment is an essential step to confirm the proposed intervention approach of WPs 1-4 (as described below) and, if needed, point out alternative, viable options to operationalize the project.
Work LocationLybia Office
Expected duration12 months
Duties andResponsibilities
Organizational Setting UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. Background The mandate of the UN-Habitat Sub-Regional Office in Lybia is to provide policy advice, technical cooperation and capacity building, especially to empower and support the most vulnerable populations. In line with the key objective of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023: “Advancing sustainable urbanization as a driver of development and peace, to improve living conditions for all in line with the SDGs”, the Regional Strategic Plan sets out the roadmap for achieving the four integrated and mutually reinforcing goals or “areas of change” as follows: a/ reducing spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum; b/ strengthening shared prosperity in cities and regions; c/ strengthening climate action and improving the urban environment; d/ effective prevention and response to urban crises. Libya has been engulfed in chaos since the overthrow of Gaddafi’s dictatorship in 2011. Over a decade of conflict between the Government of National Accord (GNA) in the West, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the East, has left the large oil producing country with fragmented and significantly weakened institutions. In 2019, after the armed confrontation that broke out in Tripoli between the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and the Government of National Accord (GNA), the build-up of waste engendered an administrative and environmental crisis threatening public health and hindering the population’s well-being. After over-accumulation of uncollected and untreated waste in the streets and residential areas, residents opted for incineration in informal landfills, which led to the emission of toxic gases and carcinogenic compounds. After the cessation of hostilities in June 2020, the waste management began to ease and authorities were able to intervene to slowly tackle the issue of uncollected and untreated waste. However, the capability of the national and local authorities to implement a sustainable waste management system remains weak, mainly due to the absence of coordination between municipalities as well as poor waste collection service funding. Inadequate management of solid waste contributes to creating a favourable environment for insects, rodents and other vector agents, which leads to problems that negatively affect human and animal health, and ultimately result in economic, environmental and biological losses. Moreover, the lack of and access to proper waste management services particularly affects the most vulnerable groups of society such as migrants and displaced people, who often settle close to hazard or polluted sites where domestic or solid waste is deposited, with severe drawbacks on their health conditions. The Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) was created by the Libyan Interim Government in an effort to shift from the central administration to a decentralised local governance system, which offers a higher level of administrative, fiscal and service delivery decentralisation. The overall objective of the Ministry of Local Government’s roadmap for the National Program 2022-2025 is to ‘achieve balanced and genuine local development and improve the quality and level of services for Libyan citizens by empowering municipalities with their local competencies and resources, and developing their abilities, capabilities and primary service facilities’. One of their priority objectives is to Support and development of local primary facilities and services. Concerning urban solid waste management services, full responsibility for collection, transport and disposal services has been legally transferred to the municipalities. In addition, the MoLG has undertaken concrete initiatives to guide and support the municipalities in fulfilling their new role, for instance through the definition of a solid waste management strategy and support for pilot implementation in 15 Libyan municipalities (including Tripoli), as well as the supply of machinery and equipment. Even though the framework to fully transfer the management and financing competencies to the municipalities is becoming more robust, the implementation of the regulations is at its early stages. The MoLG is still a relatively newly established ministry, the capacities of which need to be strengthened and enhanced to be able to perform the mandate, and fully support the municipalities in their delegated capacities. Reporting Line The consultant will be working under the direct supervision of the Head of Regional office of Arab states with the support of the Head of Tunisia Office. Duties and Responsibilities The consultant will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities: 1. Mobilizing and training volunteers on the waste wise city tool of the three municipalities: Tripoli, Souk Jouma and Abou Salim. 2. Identifying waste collection lines and pilot districts in close collaboration with the municipalities and the ministry 3. Coordination of the waste wise city tool survey in the three municipalities: Tripoli, Souk Jouma and Abou Salim 4. Analysis of the survey data and the editing of the final report 5. logistical and technical support for the project team on the ground. 6. Procurement and distribution of survey materials 7. Procurement and payment of the catering for the local workshops.
Qualifications/special skillsMaster’s degree or equivalent in Urban planning is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 7 years of work experience in the field of urban planning, environment and development project management, M&E and knowledge and local governance in Libya is required. Experience with UN System is recommended. Familiarity working with Government of Libya institutions in the field of food security, and public policy and local governance is an asset.
LanguagesFluency in both oral and written Arabic and English is required.
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.
