National Consultant for e-Waste project in Jordan

In many developing countries and countries with economies in transition, there is an active, informal or less-organized small-scale sector, collecting used and end-of-life computing equipment for repair and re-use. In a smaller number of countries, an informal sector has evolved which attempts to recover materials such as copper, gold and plastics from electronic and electrical waste (‘e-waste’), but does so utilizing processes that harm human health and the environment.

It is recognized that the low costs of setting up a computing equipment repair and resale business provide a unique economic development opportunity in low-income, poverty-stricken areas. It is nonetheless also recognized that the environmental impact from such operations can be severe if these operations and final disposal of any remaining parts are not carried out in an environmentally sound manner

Activities and studies undertaken by SBC to date have found that stakeholders in the informal collection, recycling and reuse sector often lack the necessary education and training to properly manage collection and materials recovery in an environmentally sound manner, therefore, these stakeholders are often unaware of potential environmental, health and safety risks, as well as all of the options involved in recycling computing equipment.

Most developing countries lack the infrastructure and industrial capacity to manage, in an environmentally sound manner, all processes needed for a complex electronic waste stream and therefore must rely on facilities outside of their country to ensure such environmentally sound management. However, many local businesses are ill-informed and/or ill-equipped to sell their material into environmentally sound, global markets.

This project aims at improving collection and materials recovery practices in an environmentally sound manner in Jordan. It is anticipated, by the end of the project, to have e-waste polices and legislation reviewed and updated, awareness of stakeholders and decision makers raised and new collection technologies installed in order to facilitate proper handling and processing of e-waste in Jordan.  

Within the context outlined above, UNDP seeks the recruitment of a national consultant to provide technical assistance to the e-waste project team, and assess and review national policies and legislation related to e-waste.

 Objective one:

• To provide technical assistance to project team in developing the national capacities, technologies and skills in relation to e-waste management in Jordan;
• In achieving this objective, the consultant is expected to work on the following activities;
• Propose a mechanism through which the national hazardous waste dumping site of SWAQA is activated as a treatment and disposal site for all types of hazardous waste including e-waste and establish a monitoring mechanism for the site;
• Propose a collection (and possible recycling) technology and infrastructure suited to the e-waste volume generated and assess the local operational costs;
• Formulate a national technical specification including a testing mechanism and a policy for importing used computers, into the country;
• Propose and develop a mechanism for implementation of “take back” programme for e-waste.

To  assess and examine the existing e-waste materials regulatory frameworks related to effective control of the e-waste in Jordan including Environmental Sound Management (ESM) of e-waste (handling, sampling, testing, packing, labeling, storage and disposal) through reviewing the existing laws and regulations, internationally recommended benchmarks developed by the Basel Convention Secretariats and legal framework in developed countries and to review the mechanism of legal enforcement and implementation mechanism, and to orient the decision makers on the gaps in laws and implementations(taking into consideration the Regulatory Impact Assessment).

• Conduct a baseline study to assess the current legislation that is indirectly and directly related to e-waste management and develop e-waste-specific legislation;
• Identify all stakeholders who will implement the regulation or will be influenced by the implementation of the new regulation;
•  Review the international conventions such as Basel and Stockholm conventions in addition to relevant legislation in the developed countries, to identify the gaps in local legislation based on the review and to suggest appropriate texts to support local legislation to be compatible with international conventions;
• Formulate a national policy that defines the responsibilities and obligations of all stakeholders;
• Propose draft legislation for E-waste in compliance with international standards and national circumstances;
• Create an incentive system through which formal and informal e-waste sectors are integrated in the national system;
• Facilitate a validation workshop with concerned stakeholders to further verify the content of new legislation and polices prior final endorsement by the ministry of environment. 

The consultant is expected to work under the supervision of the MoEnv mainly e-waste project manager, and in close consultation with UNDP Jordan Country Office, and to:

• Conduct needed meetings with stakeholders like, but not limited to: telecommunication companies, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Ministry of health, Hazardous substances and dangerous material directorate and any other related institutions, relevant staff from different directorates;
• Consultations via phone conversations, meetings, emails, etc. with various national partners, including but not limited to Electrical companies;
• Discuss the Final draft with the legal unit in the MoEnv to achieve the final approval;
• Convene a national workshop to validate the outputs of this consultancy.

Below are the required activities and expected outputs (deliverables), based on the objectives and scope of work stated above:

• Inception report illustrates methodology and work plan;
• Draft technical report covers all activities under objective one;
• A report assesses current national legislative framework and policies related to e-waste, supported by a comparison with international standards/conventions;
• Draft of a national policy that defines the responsibilities and obligations of all stakeholders;
• Draft legislation for E-waste in compliance with international standards and national circumstances;
• Facilitate a national validation workshop;
• Final D2, D4 and D5.

• Ability to work with a broad range of individuals of diverse institutions and levels;
• Ability to synthesize complex information and present findings accurately, clearly, and effectively to a broad variety of audiences;
• Demonstrated ability of analytical and report drafting work;
•  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

• Advanced university degree in environmental science and management or environmental law and policy or any other relevant major;
• A degree in topics relevant to management of hazardous waste.

• Preferably 10 years of professional experience in fields relevant to managing e-waste, hazardous waste,legislation, environmental science and management or environmental law and policy or any other relevant major;
• Preferably 5 years of experience in hazardous waste or very relevant fields;
• Sound knowledge about governmental policies and legislation;
•  Full computer literacy.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.