Overview
Review of single-use plastics policy framework and development of a national roadmap for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare an inception report outlining methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach, data requirements, and timeline.
- Review relevant background documents, policies, legislation, reports, and technical materials.
- Identify additional information and data requirements.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of the current status of single-use plastics (SUPs) in Bahrain.
- Assess trends in production, import, consumption, waste generation, collection, recycling, treatment, disposal, and environmental impacts of SUPs.
- Identify principal categories of SUP products contributing to plastic pollution and assess existing waste management practices and infrastructure.
- Review Bahrain's existing policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework governing single-use plastics and plastic waste management.
- Assess the effectiveness of existing policy measures, including implementation arrangements, institutional coordination, enforcement mechanisms, compliance, and monitoring systems.
- Identify strengths, gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the existing framework.
- Review international and regional policies, regulatory approaches, strategies, and best practices related to SUPs prevention and management.
- Assess the applicability of international good practices to Bahrain.
- Identify policy approaches and implementation mechanisms that could inform Bahrain's future policy framework.
- Assess the feasibility and potential effectiveness of different policy instruments to reduce SUP consumption and improve environmentally sound management of plastic waste.
- Evaluate options including regulatory restrictions and bans, product standards, economic instruments, EPR, deposit-return systems, public procurement, awareness initiatives, and voluntary agreements.
- Assess how fees on selected SUP products could function as demand-reduction measures and financing mechanisms.
- Identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, municipalities, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, recycling companies, and consumer groups.
- Prepare consultation materials, presentations, and discussion documents.
- Facilitate stakeholder consultation workshops and technical discussions.
- Document stakeholder feedback and integrate relevant inputs.
- Develop evidence-based policy options and recommendations to strengthen Bahrain's framework for preventing and reducing SUPs.
- Prepare recommendations addressing policy, regulatory, institutional, technical, financial, and behavioural aspects.
- Develop a practical implementation roadmap identifying priority actions, timelines, responsibilities, financing, and monitoring arrangements.
- Prepare all technical reports, presentations, briefing materials, and other knowledge products.
- Present findings and recommendations to UNEP, the Supreme Council for Environment, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Revise all deliverables based on comments received.
- Ensure all outputs are evidence-based, technically sound, clearly presented, and suitable for informing policy and decision-making.
- Maintain regular communication with UNEP and participate in coordination meetings.
- Work collaboratively with UNEP, the SCE, and relevant stakeholders.
- Maintain confidentiality of all information obtained.
- Perform any other related tasks requested by UNEP.
Required Experience
- At least 10 years of professional experience in solid waste management, plastic pollution, circular economy, environmental policy, or closely related fields is required.
- Demonstrated experience in reviewing and developing environmental policies, legislation, strategies, or regulatory frameworks related to plastics, waste management, or circular economy is required.
- Experience in conducting policy assessments, gap analyses, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations and implementation roadmaps is required.
- Experience in stakeholder consultation and facilitation involving government institutions, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders is required.
- Experience in preparing high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and strategic documents for governments or international organizations is required.
- Experience working in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Arab region, or on environmental policy issues in developing countries is highly desirable.
- Previous professional experience with the United Nations system, international organizations, or multilateral environmental programmes is desirable.
Qualifications
- An advanced university degree (master’s is required, PhD is an asset or equivalent) in Waste management, Environmental engineering, Environmental policy, Environmental management, Circular economy, public policy, Sustainable development, or another relevant discipline.
- A first-level university degree, combined with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
