Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. United Nation’s Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP)/Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MED POL), Athens, Greece. As stipulated in Article 5 of the LBS Protocol, the Contracting Parties are required to elaborate and implement, individually or jointly, as appropriate, national and regional action plans and programmes, containing measures and timetables for their implementation. In addition, Annex I (A) of the LBS Protocol defines the list of sectors of activities that needs to be considered in the preparation of such action plans, programmes and measures for the elimination of the pollution from land-based sources and activities, also taking into account Annex II (D) of the Protocol, which defines available waste technologies. Furthermore, Article 7 of the same Protocol, articulates that the Contracting Parties “shall progressively formulate and adopt, in cooperation with the competent international organizations, common guidelines and, as appropriate, standards or criteria dealing in particular with: (b) special requirements for effluents necessitating separate treatment”. In the same context, Amendments to the Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean in the Framework of Article 15 of the Land Based Sources Protocol (IG25/9 ) (Adapted COP 21 Antalya Türkiye) specifically, inter alia, Article 15.3 (b) calls for “implementing adequate waste reducing/reusing/recycling measures in order to reduce the fraction of plastic packaging waste that goes to landfill or incineration without energy recovery” The “Programme of Work and Budget for 2026-2027, adopted by COP 24, Decision IG.27/14 (Cairo, Egypt, 2-5 December 2025), mandated MED POL to develop new regulatory measures in line with article 15 of the LBS Protocol for priority sectors. In this context, it specifically requests the preparation of “Guidelines to enhance the environmental protection of marine and coastal environment with regards to plastic waste recycling practices prepared and submitted to MED POL FPs” (Activity 1.2.1(e)) To support the development of Guidelines on Plastic Recycling Sector and, considering global and regional policies and practices, there is a need to recruit a Regional Expert. The expert shall evaluate the readiness and performance of the plastic recycling sector in Mediterranean in terms of legal and regulatory alignment, capacity, and innovative recycling technologies, in order to inform strategic investment, policy, and programming decisions on appropriate regional policies and legally binding measures relevant to LBS Protocol and, in line with Article 7 of LBS protocol, to support MED POL in the development of guidelines for Plastic Recycling Sector in the Mediterranean Region. The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the MED POL Programme Officer (Pollution), Mr. Erol Cavus, in close collaboration with the MED POL Programme Management, and under the overall guidance of the Senior Programme Officer. The consultant will support MED POL to assess the readiness and performance of the plastic recycling sector in Mediterranean. The assessment will focus on legal and regulatory alignment, technical capacity, and explore possible innovative recycling technologies. TASKs: The consultant is expected to perform the following tasks: 1. Prepare a detailed work plan accompanied by a timetable for completion. 2. Develop a questionnaire for collecting data from the Contracting Parties on Tasks 4, 5, 6, and 7 described below 3. Prepare a first draft outline for the Guidelines on the Plastic Recycling Sector, considering, but not limited to, the following: A- The related legal frameworks: • Regional Plan on Marine Litter (RPML); • EU Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive; • The European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy; • Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU PPWR); • Stockholm Convention Decisions relevant to UV-328 – additive in plastic to protect color and structure (2023); • Basel Convention’s amendments covering: Y48 – Non-hazardous mixed plastic waste and A3210 – Hazardous plastic waste; • Waste Shipment Regulation; • REACH microplastics – Regulation; B- The outline should include, inter alia: 1. Mapping of national recycling capacities; 2. Analysis of the legal and policy framework at regional level; 3. Practical recommendations to support harmonized regulatory implementation, including relevant ELVs, the BAT/BEP; 4. Identification of possible preventive measures and innovative recycling technologies. 4. Prepare a short assessment of national plastic recycling capacities, including mechanical, chemical, biological plastic recycling processes. 5. Prepare a brief analysis of the legal and policy framework, focusing on: • Applicable frameworks in the region, including provisions on the export and import of plastic waste, transportation and movement of plastic waste, and the classification of plastic waste streams (e.g. hazardous and POP-containing plastics) by Contracting Parties (CPs); • Licensing, permitting, and operational requirements for plastic recycling facilities; • National Standards/ELVs applicable to the recycling sector; • Benchmarking against relevant Best Available Techniques (BAT) under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), where applicable; • ELVs/standards for emissions and effluents of relevant substances and pollutants; • Inspection, monitoring, and reporting obligations. 6. Present the findings on the potential environmental standards/ELVs for the plastic recycling sector in a matrix format, to facilitate the mitigation of potential environmental impacts and, where appropriate, provide recommendations for ELVs. 7. Map the technology and innovation landscape of the plastic recycling industry, including: • Identification of Best Available Technologies (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the plastic recycling sector; • Innovative materials and design for recycling practices, including those supported under EU innovation funding programmes. 8. Prepare and submit the final annotated outline for the Guidelines for UNEP/MAP-MED POL review, incorporating outputs from Tasks 4 to7. 9. Prepare final progress report including deliverables of the consultancy.
Qualifications/special skills
• Advanced University degree in chemical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental sciences, mechanical engineering, or other related discipline is required; A bachelor's degree combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience in the required field, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree • At least 2 years of relevant experience in the plastic recycling sector, and international policies, or regulatory frameworks, or sustainable production and consumption is required • Strong knowledge of plastic waste streams, treatment, recycling, and recovery of plastics, as well as plastic alternatives is desirable • Previous experience in working with UNEP/MAP is desirable
