International Legal Expert

The Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD) is a Swiss non-governmental organisation specialised in humanitarian demining and the clearance of environmental hazards. FSD destroys mines and explosive remnants of war, clears sites polluted by toxic waste and supports peace and development in countries affected by armed conflicts.

FSD acts as National Delivery Partner for Tajikistan in the UNEP GEF project Demonstration of non-thermal treatment of DDT wastes in Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan)” (Central Asia DDT project).

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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s GEF Unit in the Economy Division of UNEP is the Implementing Agency (IA) for the Central Asia DDT project. The IA has the overall supervision of the project.

The UNEP Europe Office’s main goal is to provide guidance to national governments at various levels, and to take part in the dialogue on environmental issues between governmental authorities, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders. Europe office is the Executing Agency (EA) for the Central Asia DDT project. The EA ensures that all activities, including procurement of goods and services, are carried out in strict compliance with the rules and procedures of UNEP and GEF, and ensures coordination between the countries and consistent execution and reporting of national project activities.

Policy and legal frameworks baseline

Neither the Kyrgyz Republic nor Tajikistan has a separate system in place for the collection and management of hazardous waste, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). As the export of POPs containing hazardous waste to European incineration plants is not possible under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regulations, any initiative on POPs disposal requires the establishment of a national disposal capacity. The Central Asia DDT project intends to demonstrate non thermal treatment of DDT waste through a Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) pilot.2 Both countries have ratified relevant international treaties such as the Stockholm and Basel Conventions. National legislation in both countries on production, transport and handling of hazardous waste and POPs is distributed over a wide range of laws and regulations and the regulation of specific hazardous substances such as POPs is often missing. Obligations under the Basel and Stockholm Conventions and other international treaties are not systematically translated into law.

Job Description:

As the project aims to develop Hazardous Waste management strategies in both countries to bring management in line with international best practices and the requirements of the Stockholm and Basel Conventions, including improved legislation and technical regulations aligned with regional common standards under the EAEU, the role of the International Legal Expert is to provide guidance to project partners on how to improve the two national policy and legal frameworks for sound management of hazardous wastes including POPs.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Key responsibilities and roles are outlined below:

• Provide guidance and drafting support to update existing national policy and legal frameworks in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan based on amongst others existing legislative reviews carried out in the framework of previous projects and a detailed gap analysis (one for each project country).
• Develop a set of recommendations to update the existing national policy and legal frameworks on hazardous wastes, including identifying opportunities to set appropriate emission limits for pollution from hazardous waste management activities.
• Provide feedback and additional support to both governments when they present their implementation plan for the above-mentioned recommendations to update the existing national policy and legal frameworks on hazardous wastes.
• Provide feedback and additional support during the development of a National Hazardous Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan in both project countries.
• Participate in the preparation and implementation of a Regional High Level Waste Management Meeting with national decision makers, relevant legal experts from the two countries and UNEP representatives.

Reporting:

The incumbent International Legal Expert reports directly to the FSD Project manager. The incumbent will prepare a workplan for the duration of the contract. Each quarter, in order to account for adjustment of priorities, the workplan will be reviewed jointly with the GEF DDT Project Manager. A concise progress report on the delivery of the workplan will be prepared at the end of each calendar month to monitor and identify issues.

Location and Travel:

Home-based with trips to Dushanbe and Bishkek, including:

• One trip to Dushanbe for the national legal workshop in Tajikistan to present recommendations to update the existing policy and legal frameworks on hazardous waste
• One trip to Bishkek for the national legal workshop in Kyrgyzstan recommendations to update the existing policy and legal frameworks on hazardous wastes
• One trip to Bishkek or Dushanbe to a High Level Regional Hazardous Waste Management Meeting with participation of national decision makers, relevant legal experts from the two countries and UNEP representatives

Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Law, is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of working experience as an International Legal Expert in the framework of GEF-funded Chemicals and Waste focal area projects is required, as well as knowledge of the Basel and Stockholm Conventions. Experience in the implementation of POPs and hazardous waste projects in Central Asia or other Former Soviet Union countries would be an asset. Languages: Fluency in English, including good drafting/writing skills is required. Working knowledge of Russian is desirable.

Other skills: Excellent management of office computing tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis and standard statistical techniques. Good verbal communication skills with proven ability to liaise with external stakeholders in Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.

Competencies: Detailed oriented, organized, methodical approach to work, work prioritization, establishment and maintenance of effective working relations within a multicultural working environment.

General:

• Work within the framework of the project partners’ shared values, promoting its ethos and mission statement; especially impartiality and non-political alignment.
• Work towards achieving FSD’s organisational and programme level objectives.
• Participate in meetings, networks and seminars as and when requested by the PM and HQ Operations Geneva.
• Undertake the role in a manner appropriate to respective cultural contexts and within all local legal frameworks.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as required.