Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Category:
Type: Full Time
Deadline: 08-Oct-18 12:00:00 AM
Salary:
Description
"Elimination of obsolete pesticide stockpiles and addressing POPs contaminated sites within a sound chemicals management framework in Armenia" is a GEF-5 Chemicals and Waste focal area project. The objective of the Project is to protect human health and the environment globally as well as locally through elimination of POPs and obsolete pesticide (OP) stockpiles and addressing associated contaminated sites within a sound chemicals management framework to fulfill Armenia's signatory party commitments of Stockholm Convention. Additionally, the Project will provide critically needed hazardous chemical waste infrastructure and national technical capability for the ongoing management of POPs and other hazardous chemical wastes as well as supporting the strengthening of institutional and regulatory capacity within an overall chemicals management framework. Taking into account the fact that the use of polyethylene packages in Armenia has led to serious environmental problems, the Ministry of Nature Protection has initiated the "Gradual Phase-out of Single Use Polyethylene Packages and Containers (Bags) Use". The process involves number of measures, the first of which is the introduction of a system for the application of economic mechanisms and tools to reduce the use of polyethylene bags.
Assignment Objective:
The objective of current assignment, is to provide a consultancy and technical assistance to develop exact measures based on international experience to limit the use of polyethylene packages in Armenia or to gradually phase-out. It is planned to prohibit trading and public catering objects offering free of charge disposable packages (bags) from ethylene polymers for packaging of goods by setting a pricing differentiated approach from 15 to 50 microns* thickness packages. The basis of the sale price should be the fees or taxes set by the legislation, with the justification of pricing.
The applied system of mechanisms should ensure generating of taxes or fees from the sale of polyethylene packages in the appropriate targeted off-budget accounts for implementing measures to address the problem.
This assignment, will provide support to the Ministry of Nature Protection (MNP of the RA) in development of the aforementioned measures. The Expert is expected to closely cooperate with the Ministry of Nature Protection staff and with other specialists in UNDP involved in this scope.
Responsibilities
Consistent with the above reflected general scope, the National Expert will undertake the following activities:
- Analysis of information on single-use plastic bags in Armenia, existing legal acts, in particular the RA Tax Code, laws on trade and services, "Local Duties and Payments" and other legal acts;
- Based on existing principles of the legal framework, results of the collected data and legislative analysis, drafting a legislative package of proposals including:
a) Principles of prohibiting free-of-charge disposable polyethylene packages (bags, sacks) for commercial use as per Common Roster codes of Foreign Economic Activity;
b) Provisions on the differentiated minimum pricing, payment, taxes or fees for commercial and retail outlets with a range of 15 to 50 microns* of thickness, with relevant pricing assumptions;
c) Provisions on generating the collected amounts in the off-budget accounts and introducing a targeted use mechanism;
d) Provisions on the application of administrative liability mechanisms;
e) Analysis of mechanisms enforced in Armenia and proposal on amendments for providing tax benefits to plastic waste recycling and/ or resource efficiency/ waste prevention operators;
- Discussion of a set of legislative proposals with the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection and other stakeholders;
- Development and presentation of a set of legal acts based on the discussed and agreed legislative proposals to the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection.
Deliverables:
- Analysis of information and existing legal acts relating to the single-use plastics restriction;
- Report developed on the provisions and drafting of legislative package prohibiting commercial use of free-of-charge disposable polyethylene packages.
Payment mode: payment will be made upon confirmation of UNDP on delivery of the outputs in a satisfactory manner using the following instalments; 100% upon completion of the Outputs 1 and 2 (up to 30 days involvement).
Timing and reporting: the National Expert will be engaged on short-term base, up to 30 working days during 2-month period under the Individual Contract arrangement, and direct supervision of the Project Coordinator and within the overall advice of UNDP SGR (Sustainable Growth and Resilience) Portfolio Manager and in close cooperation with the Project team and stakeholders, i.e. MNP of the RA.
RequiredQualifications
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
- Knowledge of national and international regulations/ norms and mechanisms related to effective management of single-use plastics;
- Excellent analytical skills;
- Excellent oral and written communication (ability to express ideas clearly and concisely);
- Excellent presentation skills;
- Excellent coordination and collaboration skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different social and cultural backgrounds;
- IT skills: MS office, web applications.
Required Skills and Experience:
- Master's degree in a related field of science/ discipline, e.g. Law, Environmental Law;
- At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in the analysis and drafting legal acts;
- Previous experience in the environmental regulatory topics is an asset;
- Language skills: Armenian, English (technical proficiency).
Benefits
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