Project Background

The Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNIDO. The project aims to support the Government of Sindh (GoS) in implementing its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). One of the focused areas of PAIDAR is infrastructure improvements in five districts: Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar and Larkana.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a United States-based international humanitarian agency working in over 100 countries. CRS’ mission includes saving, protecting, and transforming lives through relief and development efforts across sectors such as emergency response, health, agriculture, education, and more. In Pakistan, CRS has been operational since 1954, with projects focusing on emergency response, food security, education, and disaster risk reduction.

Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF), the government entity established to reconstruct 2.1 million houses in Sindh, has collaborated with the PAIDAR programme to support the targeted improvements of basic infrastructure in pre-identified villages within selected districts of Sindh province, for four districts Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, and Tharparkar.  SPHF (with technical assistance of CRS) is developing Climate Resilient Settlement Development Plan (CRSDP) for PAIDAR programme in four districts, providing technical assistance for data collection, assessment, and analysis. CRS will engage and hire the required human resources, arrange the administrations, logistics and consultancy services and conduct orientations and trainings for accurate data collection, assessment, and analysis.

Objective and Responsibilities:

The Waste Management Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing sustainable waste management systems at the village and Rural Growth Center (RGC) levels. This role will include establishing circular economy practices, such as reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R principles), in line with the EU’s Circular Economy Strategy. The specialist will explore potential for local recycling units and waste-to-energy initiatives, providing business development insights that can contribute to sustainable waste management models for villages and RGCs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct comprehensive waste audits in selected villages and RGCs.
• Design waste management strategies based on circular economy principles, with an emphasis on local recycling, waste-to-energy, and resource recovery.
• Collaborate with local authorities, community leaders, and RGC stakeholders to establish waste management guidelines.
• Train local stakeholders in sustainable waste handling, segregation, and recycling techniques.
• Identify potential opportunities for creating local recycling units and waste-based businesses.
• Develop community-driven waste collection systems connected to Rural Growth Centers.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of waste management systems, adjusting strategies based on performance data.

Deliverables

• Village and RGC-level waste management plans that incorporate circular economy principles.
• Report on potential local recycling units and business models for waste reuse.
• Training sessions for community members and stakeholders on waste segregation and recycling.
• Comprehensive waste audits and needs assessments for each selected site.
• Final report summarizing progress, challenges, and recommendations for future waste management strategies.

Reporting Relationships:

The Waste Management Specialist will report directly to the Program Manager and will collaborate closely with other project officers, technical experts, and field teams.

Duration of Contract:

Contract duration for the assignment will be approximately 03 months and duration may increase or decrease depending upon the completion of task.

Required Competencies, Experience, and Qualification

• Proven expertise in designing and implementing waste management systems in rural or resource-constrained environments.
• Knowledge of circular economy principles and their application in waste management.
• Familiarity with waste-to-energy technologies and local recycling practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on sustainability.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse community groups and local authorities.
• Proficiency in project management tools and waste management software.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage local communities and stakeholders.
• A proactive, results-oriented mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver results on time.
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to mentor and train others.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Waste Management, or Engineering. A Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

Experience and Qualifications Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience in waste management projects, ideally in rural or low-resource settings.
• Experience in circular economy applications, including recycling and waste-to-energy initiatives.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and best practices related to waste management in Pakistan.