Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant (Flash Environmental Assessment Tool) At UN Environment Programme

Purpose.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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 UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (ROLAC), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

Background
The creation of the Regional Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network was recommended at the Intersessional Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, in Bridgetown, Barbados, 5th – 6th November 2019. The ministers and heads of delegation supported the initiative with the intention of facilitating the capacity building of ministries of environment in preparedness and risk reduction for environmental dimensions of emergencies, as well as to facilitate political engagement, raise awareness of the relationship between environment and emergencies, and of the response services of UNEP. Furthermore, during the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean that took place on 1st-2nd February 2021, the ministers of the region supported the consolidation of the Regional Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network for Latin America and Caribbean through the adoption of Decision 6: The Environmental Dimension of Emergencies and Crises. That decision marked an important milestone in the history of the Forum of Ministers, because for the first time a decision relating the environment, emergencies and crisis was adopted in this space that sets the regional political agenda for environmental management.

Currently, the Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network has a voluntary membership with 20 member countries and 30 focal points representing them. The focal points and the Network secretariat have worked since the Network inception to create several core documents such as terms of reference, rules of operation, the draft document of Decision 6 for the Forum, and most recently on the activities for the biannual workplan. In the workplan, agreed and reviewed by all network members, there are specific activities that were proposed to deliver products or usable outputs in order increase and improve preparedness and capacities for the environmental emergencies. The workplan and other relevant network documents will be provided to the selected consultant.

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In addition to this, members of the Network secretariat have participated in response mission to assess environmental impacts in countries affected by natural and manmade hazards. During those mission, the use of the Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT) has allowed for rapid assessments and helped to identify potential acute environmental impacts that pose risks for humans, human life-support functions and ecosystems. The FEAT tool focuses primarily on immediate and acute impacts arising from released hazardous chemicals, which can be used my countries in the region to improve their preparedness and response UN Environment Programmeactions related to environmental emergencies.

To address these needs, UNEP ROLAC is looking to hire a consultant to develop, complement and finalise FEAT impact tables for specific countries in the region sing secondary data; to create a webinar related with how to improve preparedness for environmental emergencies for Network members and others interested; and to improve the existing methodology document of how to create FEAT impact tables in any country using secondary data. These outputs will be used by UNEP, members of the Regional Environment and Emergencies Preparedness Network, and other interested in order to improve preparedness for environmental emergencies and to support emergency missions in the region.

The incumbent will be supervised by the regional humanitarian affairs officer in the UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and will work from home.

Objective. Under the supervision of the regional humanitarian affairs officer in the UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, develop, complement and finalise FEAT impact tables for specific countries in the region, to create a webinar related with how to improve preparedness for environmental emergencies for Network members and others interested, and to improve the existing methodology of how to create FEAT impact tables in any country using secondary data. The consultant is not expected to travel to the field as a part of this consultancy and will work from home.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsibilities of the consultant include, but are not limited to:

1. Update existing FEAT tables for specific countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, ensuring that existing data is correct and relevant, while updating the format of old tables to the most updated version.
2. Develop FEAT tables for countries that do not have tables created.
3. Deliver any material or source of information used during the update or creation of the FEAT tables in order to have a data base of sources including the date of access.
4. Plan, coordinate, and deliver a webinar related with how to improve preparedness for environmental emergencies for Network members and others interested.
5. Update and develop the existing methodology of how to create FEAT impact tables in any country, emphasising in a detailed and structured instructions file, that allows for fast usage.

Output 1: Create what corresponds to 50% of FEAT tables of the countries that do not have FEAT tables created yet (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay), using secondary data sources, information available on the internet, existing data on other FEAT tables and similar.
Product No. 1: 50% of FEAT tables completed for the countries that do not have FEAT tables created yet (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay).

Output 2: Create the reminding 50% of FEAT tables of the countries that do not have FEAT tables created yet (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay), using secondary data sources, information available on the internet, existing data on other FEAT tables and similar, and create the first draft plan for the webinar session.
Product No. 2: The reminding 50% of FEAT tables completed for the countries that do not have FEAT tables created to date (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay), and draft plan for the webinar including dates, format, topics, and other relevant.

Output 3: Update the FEAT tables of the countries without updated information (Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Cuba Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago), while dividing the information by region, department, or state, in order to have fully updated information for the whole Latin America and the Caribbean region. Also, create the final plan and date for the delivery of the webinar session, and the updated methodology to develop FEAT tables in in the future.
Product No. 3: 100% of FEAT tables updated for countries without updated information (Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Cuba Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago). Also, the final plan for the webinar session, and a complete methodology document to develop FEAT tables in in the future.

Description of the outputs

Output 1- Product No. 1:
The update of the existing FEAT table should include:
• A review of existing facilities, coordinates, substances, and areas of exposure.
• An update of the outdated tables to the most up to date format avoiding merging cells to facilitate the future mapping of the tables (new template will be provided).
• Highlights for the added items to the existing tables and the dates when the information was obtained, with sources.
• Delivery of any material or source of information used during the update or creation of the FEAT tables in order to have a data base of sources including the date of access.

Output 2 – Product No. 2:
The creation of the FEAT tables and the webinar plan should include:
• Delivery of any material or source of information used during the update or creation of the FEAT tables.
• The use of the most up to date format for the FEAT tables.
• A detailed plan for the webinar with topics to be presented, methodology and others relevant.

Output 3 – Product No. 3:
The creation of the FEAT tables, the webinar materials and the methodology should include:
• Delivery of any material or source of information used during the update or creation of the FEAT tables.
• The use of the most up to date format for the FEAT tables.
• Handouts and deliverables from the webinar.
• A compete and easy to use methodology with explanatory titles of how to create FEAT impact tables in any country.

Work Location
Home-based

Expected duration
2.5 months contract

Qualifications/special skills
Qualifications Required
Candidates are strongly advised to detail how they meet the qualifications and experience required in the cover letter that accompanies their application profile for this consultancy.

ACADEMIC: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in chemical engineering, environmental toxicology, industrial chemistry, natural sciences, disaster (risk) management, environmental sciences, or another field clearly related to the consultancy. A first-level university degree in related fields in combination with qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

PROFESSIONAL:
• A minimum of five (5) years relevant work experience in chemical engineering, environmental toxicology, industrial chemistry, chemical emergency response, or another field clearly related to the content of this consultancy (or eight years in lieu of an advanced university degree);
• Experience of developing webinars;
• Intermediate level in Microsoft Office;

LANGUAGE: Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

DESIRABLE:
• Experience in the use of environmental assessment tools;
• Experience using Geographic Information Systems;
• Experience using the FEAT in any context;
• Experience using other chemical risk assessment tools or applications (e.g. SaferMobile or similar).

No Fee
THE 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.