Lead Consultant – Technical Support Consultant under UNEP Partnership Programme

Result of Service

Continuity of operational support to the OzonAction International Partnership Programme with: (i) all jointly developed products with ASHRAE maintained, promoted, updated, and used; (ii) the 2024–2025 Work Plan formally closed through a final report and the 2026–2027 Biennial Work Plan drafted and approved by the JLWG; (iii) partner relationships sustained across UNEP, ASHRAE, government agencies, industry, and academia; and (iv) coherence ensured between the Partnership portfolio and related OzonAction pilot and standalone initiatives, including the other OzonAction projects and initiatives. All work products are the property of UNEP. The consultant will respect confidentiality on all matters concerning the partnership, the Joint Liaison Working Group (JLWG), the Multilateral Fund Executive Committee, and Montreal Protocol technical bodies (RTOC, TEAP) where confidentiality applies. Personal data captured through user-feedback systems will be handled in line with UNEP data-protection guidance. UNEP reserves the right to return deliverables for revision; one round of revision will be completed within five working days unless a longer period is agreed and will not draw additional days from the level-of-effort envelope. The consultant will disclose any actual or perceived conflict of interest in writing to the OzonAction Programme Officer.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

Nine (9) months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: 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. Within UNEP, the Law Division works with international and non-governmental organizations, national and local governments, as well as business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies, and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of conventions and international agreements. UNEP is an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Under the Law Division, OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) provides global management services to ensure that National Ozone Units (NOUs) are provided with adequate advisory services, capacity building, and technical assistance to implement activities approved by the Multilateral Fund’s Executive Committee. The global programme management services also ensure that the Executive Committee receives timely, accurate, relevant, and high-quality project proposals, financial and substantive reports, and information about the implementation of actions on the ground. The OzonAction International Partnership Programme is one of the core components of UNEP’s CAP, providing technical cooperation, knowledge products, and capacity-building support to the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector — the largest and most complex consumer of controlled substances regulated under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. Through structured collaboration with international and regional professional associations and technical organizations, the Programme delivers a growing portfolio of tools, training materials, and services that directly support countries in meeting and sustaining compliance with their international obligations. Since its establishment in 2016, the Programme has expanded substantially in scope, geographic reach, and operational complexity. The portfolio includes multiple jointly developed products, continuous outreach and promotion activities, structured feedback mechanisms, and regular technical updates. This expansion has increased the need for systematic portfolio management, performance monitoring, user feedback collection, and coordination with multiple global and regional partners. Beyond the Partnership portfolio, OzonAction also implements and supports related pilot and standalone initiatives that contribute to Montreal Protocol compliance and Kigali Amendment implementation in Article 5 parties. These include the Safety Project, addressing safe practices in the RAC sector (in particular for flammable refrigerants), and the Twinning Project, fostering peer cooperation between NOUs and between ASHRAE chapters and NOUs. Coherence between the Partnership portfolio and these initiatives is essential to maximize impact and avoid duplication. The effective operation of this portfolio depends on dedicated technical and coordination capacity. UNEP proposes engaging the services of a highly qualified senior consultant on a temporary basis. The consultant will maintain operational momentum, safeguard the integrity and usability of the International Partnership portfolio, and support coordination with partners and with related pilot and standalone projects. Under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer in the global OzonAction team and under the overall guidance of the Head of OzonAction Branch, the consultant will work to support the management, maintenance, and further development of tools and products jointly developed with ASHRAE and other selected tools and products developed by other partners, while ensuring continuity, quality control, stakeholder engagementand ensuring coherence with related OzonAction initiatives that intersect with the Partnership scope. The consultancy is structured as a nine-month assignment The assignment is aligned with the operational needs of the UNEP OzonAction International Partnership Programme, including the ASHRAE–UNEP Partnership, selected activities involving other OzonAction global partners, and the deployment of relevant knowledge tools and products through OzonAction CAP activities and projects. The consultant will provide technical, strategic, coordination and implementation support for the review, quality assurance, deployment, dissemination, presentation, monitoring and continuous improvement of OzonAction knowledge tools and products developed in cooperation with ASHRAE, as well as selected tools and products developed with other OzonAction global partners where technical review, quality assurance, dissemination support, project-use guidance or improvement recommendations are required. A central responsibility of the consultant will be to develop, carry out and report on a structured dissemination and deployment plan for relevant knowledge products and tools, addressing the needs of different OzonAction CAP Regional Networks and linking the tools to relevant OzonAction project delivery streams, including Institutional Strengthening (IS), HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMPs), Kigali Implementation Plans (KIPs), energy-efficiency activities, enforcement and customs-related work, technician training, policy support and other CAP-supported activities. The consultant will provide practical guidance to CAP activity leaders, Regional Network teams and relevant project focal points on how to deploy and use knowledge products and tools within these projects. This will include identifying the most relevant products for each project type, preparing practical deployment guidance, supporting presentations or demonstrations, advising on integration into project activities, collecting feedback from project teams and countries, and recommending improvements to ensure that the tools are actively used by National Ozone Units, policy-makers, technicians, enforcement officers, trainers and other intended users. (The consultant will not be responsible for translating knowledge products, tools, reports, fact sheets, presentations or other materials into French, Spanish or any other language. Translation, where required, will be undertaken separately by UNEP, partners, qualified translators or other designated service providers). The consultant may, however, identify and coordinate suitable French- and Spanish-speaking subject-matter experts who can present, explain or support dissemination of selected products and tools in the relevant languages during CAP Network meetings, webinars, workshops or other dissemination activities. For ASHRAE-related work, the consultant will support implementation of relevant components of the ASHRAE–UNEP 2026–2027 Work Plan, particularly those concerning knowledge products, fact sheets, joint tools, the ASHRAE–UNEP Portal, Lower GWP Innovation Award case studies, ASHRAE UNEP Connect and RAC Plant Sustainability materials. For other OzonAction global partners, the consultant will conduct or coordinate technical reviews, assess consistency and usability, recommend improvements, and support deployment through relevant CAP projects as requested by the OzonAction Programme Officer. Day allocations are indicative. Redistribution across outputs may be agreed in writing with the OzonAction Programme Officer, provided that the total level of effort of 9 months is not exceeded. Any redistribution will be recorded in the Implementation Table and reflected in the next quarterly progress report. Summary of Main Outputs: Output-1: Coordination, monitoring and reporting on OzonAction International Partnership knowledge products and tools, including ASHRAE–UNEP Work Plan coordination, product/project mapping, the 2024–2025 Work Plan Final Report, and drafting of the 2026–2027 Biennial Work Plan. Output-2: Partner engagement, ASHRAE UNEP Connect, identification of French- and Spanish-speaking subject-matter experts, and support to CAP activity leaders for dissemination and use of knowledge tools. Portion of output is subject to ASHRAE approval of co-funding. Output-3: Technical review, quality assurance, deployment, and dissemination of knowledge products and tools through CAP Networks and CAP-supported projects, including IS, HPMPs, and KIPs. Output-4: Usage analysis, technical review, improvement recommendations, promotion planning, and feedback mechanisms for ASHRAE–UNEP and other OzonAction partner knowledge products, including feedback from project use. Output-5: UNEP RAC Plant Sustainability: technical review, policy-maker presentation, deployment, recording, expert-supported French/Spanish presentation arrangements, and project integration. Output is subject to ASHRAE approval of co-funding. Output-6: Lower-GWP innovation, case studies, partner-supported knowledge sharing and dissemination of replicable good practices through CAP Networks and relevant project activities.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, or environmental management, natural sciences, engineering, or any related discipline. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in the fields of environment, engineering, technology, chemistry, or a related field is required. This experience should demonstrate a strong understanding of relevant issues and expertise in the subject matter, with a particular emphasis on the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, the Montreal Protocol, and the Kigali Amendment. Extensive experience in planning and managing workshops and training events, and in working with different stakeholders, as well as having very good communication and facilitation skills is required. Understanding of the Montreal Protocol, including comprehensive knowledge of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, and related energy-efficiency issues is required. Excellent communication skills, enabling the effective sharing of knowledge and information with a diverse audience is required. Excellent writing skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and well-structured reports is required. Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to adhere to deadlines and to effectively prioritise tasks is required. Good understanding of national obligations arising from the Kigali Amendment under the Montreal Protocol, and other capacity-building activities is required. Experience working in or with developing countries, showcasing a deep understanding of the specific challenges and contexts associated with these regions, is desirable. Strong policy and technical expertise related to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in developing countries is desirable. Familiarity with the ASHRAE–UNEP cooperation portfolio and its joint products is desirable. Experience with portfolio monitoring, user feedback collection, and data-driven product improvement is desirable. Experience supporting pilot and standalone projects in the Montreal Protocol context is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written French is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.