Duties and Responsibilities
The transition to sustainable energy systems is creating a set of pressures that has profound implications for economies in general and for extractive industries in particular. Extractive industries are those that are involved in the extraction, processing, and utilization of raw materials from the earth including fossil fuels, minerals and rare earth metals. The Ministerial Declaration of the Third Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF-3) highlighted that certain minerals, materials and technologies are critical for energy transitions and that there is a need to maintain reliable, responsible and sustainable supply chains of such minerals and materials, as well as semiconductors and related technologies. It reiterated the need to reduce the potential negative impacts on people and the environment and highlighted the intent of member States to leverage multilateral cooperation, as well as cooperation in Asia and the Pacific. Furthermore, the Ministerial Declaration invited member States and other relevant stakeholders to consider the possibility of taking appropriate measures to ensure the application of the United Nations Resource Management System (UNMS) Principles and Requirements. Building off the mandate of the APEF-3 Ministerial Declaration and ongoing work at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels. ESCAP’s Energy Division is continuing work on sustainable extractive industries, critical minerals for the energy transition, pathways for the phasing out of coal generation, and regional cooperation initiatives, including for example support for implementation of the fourth ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP-IV) and the ASEAN Principles for Sustainable Mineral Development (APSMD). The Division also provides substantive support for UN system‑wide coordination mechanisms, including the UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETMs). In support of these efforts, the Energy Division is engaging a special consultant to advance technical, analytical, and coordination work related to sustainable extractive industries, including supporting efforts to maintain and expand ESCAP’s extractive industries portfolio, with a focus on dissemination and application of UNRMS and the UN Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), cooperation with regional bodies such as ASEAN Secretariat, and strengthened collaboration across the UN system and relevant partners and stakeholders. Objective Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Section, Energy Division and the overall supervision of the Director of the Division, the Consultant will provide technical, analytical, and advisory support to ESCAP and member States to: • Support implementation on sections of the APEF 3 Ministerial Declaration related to sustainable resource management, critical minerals, and energy technology value chains; • Support dissemination, training, and application of UNFC and UNRMS in member States and subregions; • Strengthen cooperation with regional partners, in particular ASEAN on implementation of the AMCAPC-IV and APSMD; • Enhance coordination within the UN system, including substantive support to the UN Task Force on CETMs; • Produce analytical inputs, regional knowledge products, and capacity building activities that support a sustainable, just, and inclusive resource management transition. • Coordinate with other ESCAP Divisions on topics related to critical minerals and value chain development. • Identify opportunities for and support efforts to increase funding for relevant work. Duties and responsibilities: The Consultant will undertake the following tasks: • Support dissemination and application of UNFC and UNRMS, including through the development of guidance materials, briefs, and presentations, and targeted assistance at the country and sub-regional levels • Identify capacity gaps and support ESCAP in designing tailored capacity building activities and programmes relevant to critical energy transition minerals. • Conduct analytical work aligned with the APEF3 Ministerial Declaration, including on critical minerals governance, just transitions, circularity, and regional resource cooperation. • Provide technical support and analytical inputs to ASEAN in the context of AMCAP-IV, APSMD and related activities, including the organization of joint ESCAP-ASEAN events, workshops, and policy dialogues. • Represent ESCAP at and contribute to the work of the UN Task Force on CETMs, including joint inputs, shared methodologies, and coordinated capacity building activities. • Facilitate communication and collaboration with UN agencies such as UNECE, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UN Energy, and other relevant entities, and help identify areas for joint programming or resource mobilization. • Prepare analytical reports, policy briefs, data compilations, technical notes, and presentations, as well as inputs to high level meetings and intergovernmental processes. • Organize and facilitate workshops, consultations, and policy dialogues, including agenda development, participant engagement, and preparation of meeting reports. • Provide a monthly progress report summarizing achievements, contributions, challenges, and next steps. • Other tasks as required.
