Project Associate, Circular Economy and Chemicals Waste Management

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people- centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: - Strong, accountable, and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs - Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized - Climate- smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability. South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture. You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country- specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those.

The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP India works to support India's transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient & environmentally sustainable development pathway, in alignment with the Country Programme Document (2023–27) & the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Within the ACE Unit, the Circular Economy & Chemicals Waste Management (CE & CWM) pillar supports the Government of India in addressing the growing environmental & public health challenges posed by unsustainable material flows, hazardous waste streams, & ozone-depleting & toxic chemical substances. The pillar operates through a multi-project portfolio that spans plastic waste management, e-waste & chemicals management, & is implemented in close partnership with central and state government ministries, urban local bodies, private sector, civil society organisations, & international financial mechanisms including the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. Under the Circular Economy sub-pillar, UNDP India supports the development and scaling of inclusive, systems-based approaches to plastic and electronic waste management. The Plastic Waste Management (PWM) project and The Coca-Cola Foundation Plastics Circularity Project work to strengthen decentralised waste management infrastructure, advance regulatory frameworks, promote responsible sourcing across plastic value chains, and integrate informal waste workers, Safai Mitras, into formal systems through linkages to social protection schemes under the Government of India's NAMASTE initiative. The GEF-funded E-Waste Project supports India's transition to a circular economy in the electrical and electronic equipment sector by reducing releases of Persistent Organic Pollutants, mercury, and other hazardous substances across the entire product lifecycle — strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks, deploying Best Available Techniques in the formal and informal recycling sectors, and supporting India's compliance with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Under the Chemicals Waste Management sub-pillar, UNDP India supports the Government of India — primarily the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and its Ozone Cell — in meeting its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan Stage III (HPMP III) supports the complete and sustainable phase-out of HCFCs across Indian manufacturing sectors, while the HFC Demonstration Projects pilot commercially viable transitions to low Global Warming Potential refrigerant alternatives under the Kigali Amendment. The Institutional Strengthening Project Phase XIV (ISP-XIV) provides sustained capacity and coordination support to the National Ozone Unit. The GEMINI Project — Global Elimination of Mercury in Non-ferrous metals Initiative in India — addresses mercury releases from the copper, zinc, lead, and aluminium smelting and refining industries, supporting policy, regulatory, and technology interventions to reduce mercury emissions and safeguard human health & ecosystems, in line with India's commitments under the Minamata Convention. Together, these projects position the CE & CWM pillar as a key contributor to India's environmental governance agenda & its international commitments on chemicals & waste management.

Under the direct supervision of Project Specialist, the Project Associate will perform the following tasks: 1. Support the Project Specialist in planning and running the Circular Economy and Chemicals Waste Management (CE & CWM) pillar, panning Circular Economy (Plastic Waste Management, TCCF Plastics Circularity, and E-Waste) and Chemicals Waste Management (HPMP III, HFC Demonstrations, ISP-XIV, and GEMINI) projects, in accordance with approved work plans, donor agreements, and GEF/MLF reporting timelines. 2. Maintain integrated cross-project trackers covering workplans, milestones, financial delivery, and key actions across all seven projects, and follow up with project teams, implementing partners, and government counterparts to ensure timely completion. 3. Coordinate routine programme reviews and project-level meetings including weekly team check-ins, monthly progress reviews, and Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Project Board meetings and support in preparing agendas, meeting notes, and ensuring closure of action points. 4. Track implementation progress across project components and partner organisations; flag delays, bottlenecks, or risks early to enable quick corrective action by the Project Specialist. 5. Maintain an active issues and risks log across the portfolio; support escalation of unresolved issues to the Project Specialist and track resolution to closure in line with UNDP protocols. 6. Coordinate with government counterparts as well as private sector partners, civil society organisations, and UN agencies for implementation follow-ups, data requests, approvals, and reporting inputs. 7. Compile concise and accurate progress updates, results summaries, and reporting packs for internal UNDP management as well as external stakeholders, donors and private sector partners, ensuring outputs are results-oriented and evidence-based. 8. Manage programme documentation, maintaining a well-organised, version-controlled repository of project files, decisions, partner correspondence, progress reports, and evidence, in line with UNDP's programme and operations policies. 9. Support the preparation of concept notes, project briefs, donor proposals, and knowledge products by compiling background information, results data, partner inputs, and contextual evidence as requested. 10. Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the Project Specialist or Senior Management in support of the CE & CWM pillar's delivery.