Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes sustainable development and environmental stewardship. UNEP’s Economy Division, based in Geneva, leads the Green Economy Initiative (GEI), launched in 2008 to drive economic growth through green investment and eco-friendly consumer choices. The Resources and Markets Branch explores how economics, trade, and finance intersect with sustainability at all levels. The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) is a multi-year interagency programme, implemented jointly by UNEP, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Economic and Trade Policy Unit is executing the PAGE country delivery activities on behalf of UNEP. India joined the PAGE programme in 2018, with UNEP serving as the lead agency. PAGE interventions in the country, are designed to be mutually complementary and reinforcing, to achieve India’s vision of green economic growth and sustainable development. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the nodal ministry, working alongside other sectoral ministries to implement PAGE’s integrated approach. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Government of India has published the Ecomark Certification Rules 2024, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These rules supersede the previous Eco-mark scheme established in 1991 to further play a significant step to label environmentally friendly products. This is considered as one of the major accelerators to promote environmental consciousness and encourage sustainable product manufacturing. Criteria have already been developed for several initial product categories, and MoEFCC has requested further support for developing criteria for an additional three products and selected sub-categories. At the same time, public procurement in India, representing nearly 20% of national GDP, offers significant potential to drive markets toward sustainability. PAGE has been working with key ministries to build capacities on Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) and ecolabelling through assessments, product prioritization work, and training programmes. Specific tasks and responsibilities Output 1: Draft report along with detailed presentation covering findings, and analysis of the study, and suggested Eco mark criteria for three products and select sub product categories covered under Ecomark Rules 2024. Details:For each of the three product categories and their subcategories, undertake the following: • Assessment of current market practices • Comparison of ecolabelling criteria – global and national ecolabels and standards, and identification of gaps and recommendations for drafting the Ecomark criteria for three product categories and their subcategories. • Research on any additional requirement from CPCB or MoEFCC for enabling finalisation of draft Ecomark criteria for three products and sub product categories. Output 2: Final report on the above, after incorporating feedback from stakeholders, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and MoEFCC. Details: • Presentation of the draft report to the MoEFCC and CPCB/Technical Committee as required, and incorporation of feedback. • Consultation with industry on recommendations in form of focus-group / stakeholder consultations and incorporation of feedback. • Development of final recommendations to be included in the updated notification for Eco mark. • submission of report to MoEFCC. Output 3: Final training modules on SPP & Ecolabelling for Indian Railways Officials and Officials of Indian Administrative Services. Details • Review UNEP’s global guidance materials on Sustainable Public Procurement and Ecolabelling. • Review PAGE studies on SPP and Ecolabelling in India. • Develop sector-specific content for Waste Management, Cleaning & Disinfection, and Green Air-conditioning Services for SPP • Integrate ecolabelling tools, certification systems, and life-cycle approaches. • Design the agenda, facilitator materials, participant resources, and evaluation tools. • Submission of draft modules to Ministry of Railay and LBASNA for review and feedback and finalize incorporating recommendations. Output 4: Report documenting the delivery of one pilot training programme on SPP and Ecolabelling for the Indian Railways Officials (2 days) and two pilot trainings for the trainee Officials of Indian Administrative Services. Details: • Conduct an interactive workshop for policymakers (Railways and LBSNAA), incorporating practical group exercises on tender evaluation, sustainability criteria, and ecolabel application etc. • Based on participant engagement and feedback, refine and finalise the workshop materials to enhance clarity, relevance, and usability. Prepare a comprehensive training completion and impact assessment report, documenting outcomes, lessons learned, and evaluation findings. • The consultant will also provide actionable recommendations for institutionalizing and scaling the training, including potential integration into national e-learning and training platforms such as iGOT Karmayogi or Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, ensuring sustainability and long-term capacity building. Output 5 Submission of the above training modules to the Ministry of Railways and LBSNAA (Indian Civil Services Academy) in an online self-paced format, for its institutionalization Details: • Convert the training modules in an online self-paced format aligned with the format which could be hosted in the Mission Karmayogi Platform of the Government of India, for its institutionalization at national level.
Qualifications/special skills
• An advanced university degree in environmental science/ environmental engineering/ architecture / building sciences / energy / economics/ equivalent academic qualification is required. • At least 5years of working experience in sustainability/environment/development sector is required. • Strong proven skills in data analytics, research and writing and presentation skills is required. • Understanding and experience of working on sustainability standards, labels and certification is required. • Experience of working with UN agencies, government bodies, certification bodies or other international organizations would be preferred. • Experience in designing and delivering capacity building programmes including for policy makers would be preferred.