Annex 1
Terms of reference
Title:
Project number and title:
Type of contract:
Duty station:
Duration:
Services to update National Plan of Implementation of
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and
POP Capacity Building
NIP update, integration of POPs into national planning and
promoting sound healthcare waste management in Kazakhstan
Institutional contract
Location based
April-December 2014
Introduction: The project objective is to reduce the releases of unintentionally produced
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other globally harmful environmental pollutants into the
environment by promoting sound healthcare waste management in Kazakhstan; and to assist the
country in implementing its relevant obligations under the Stockholm Convention.
Reasoning:
To protect human health and environment from toxic and hazardous chemical and dangerous
wastes listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) the Stolckholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants was adopted in May 2001. Kazakhstan ratified the Stolckholm Convention on
November 9, 2007.
In line with Article 7 of the Convention the countries-parties to the Convention had to
develop the National Implementation Plan (NIP) to demonstrate the strategy of implementation of
obligations under the Stolckholm Convention. The first NIP was officially forwarded to the
Stolckholm Convention Secretariat on December 8, 2009.
At this point of time in order to reflect the last amendments in the list of Stolckholm Convention
chemical substances Kazakhstan has to revise and update its NIP. The process of NIP update will
make it possible for Kazakhstan to perform inventory of products and goods containing new POPs
and to identify sectorial production processes that use new POPs or unintentionally produced
persistent organic pollutants (uPOPs).
Legal control over management of chemical substances and wastes in Kazakhstan is based on
Environmental Code, which is a regulatory-legal base necessary to set regulatory control over the
implementation of the measures endorsed.
The document sets general provisions and principles, on which the national environmental
management system is to be based, including those aspects that are directly related to safe handling
chemical substances and wastes. Further on, it implies harmonization of the national legislation
with the current international norms and standards, specifically with the EU environmental
directives. As of now eighteen (18) international conventions related to environment, as well as
thirty (30) EU directives and their provisions have been taken into account in the Environmental
Code.
Though Environmental Code has been complemented by new articles dealing with the
management of POP wastes there are still gaps that are to be filled in by more integrated legislation
that takes into account all the POPs aspects having environmental and health impact. It has to give
special attention: to BEP/BAT technologies on reduction of uPOP emission by industrial sources;
to environment quality indicators; to plans and rules of soil cleanup; to rules concerning
management of the industrial use of flame retardants with POP properties; to recycling or re-use of
products; to the use and production of PFOs given the necessity to apply special exceptions for
some of the substances in compliance with the Stockholm Convention.
When preparing the update of NIP (given PFOs and new POP) special attention should be
given to comprehensive review of the gaps within the system of the currently in force legislation in
order to identify better ways to integrate Stockholm Convention requirements into the current
legislation and to ensure their better implementation.
The global community is well aware of the fact that currently uPOPs are a serious
challenge in terms of chemical safety. In the first place this is determined by complexity of
regulating unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants. Under the Stockholm
Convention countries are to control release of unintentionally produced persistent organic
pollutants and undertake measures on their minimization. Apart from that the Convention parties
have to promote the use of the best available technologies to control the sources of POPs.
The key sources of uPOPs are industrial companies, uncontrolled incineration of industrial
and healthcare wastes.
In Kazakhstan industrial companies do not give due attention to uPops management issues.
The reason of that is the lack of necessary information as to the regulatory measures concerning
the gives releases, available monitoring technologies and minimization of uPOPs releases.
Unauthorized waste incineration in the garbage dumps is the source of dioxin and furan
releases; quite often specialized companies managing garbage dumps and facilities on waste
recovery and waste treatment lack essential knowledge of uPOPs monitoring and control.
Uncontrolled incineration of medical waste is a significant source of dioxin and furan that
are in fact unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants. Incineration still remains the
principal way of healthcare waste decontamination while awareness as to uPOPs releases
resulting from wastes incineration is also at a very low level.
Given this, building capacity of industrial companies and other stakeholders regarding
POPs management issues, including POPs and mercury unintentional releases, is becoming very
pertinent and timely. Holding training workshops will contribute to capacity building of
industrial companies, companies specialized in waste management, public bodies, nongovernmental organizations working in the area of uPOPs management, which will result in
control improvement and uPOPs release minimization.
Legislation of Kazakhstan does not set emission standards for waste incineration or any other
technical requirements for the given process. However, waste incinerator, as any other object of
waste disposal, is to be assessed in terms of its environmental impact and has to obtain a permit for
waste utilization before it sets to work. The given permit includes requirements on release of some
pollutants, with the exception of uPOPs, and heavy metals, with the follow up payment of relevant
environmental duties. However in reality pollution test checks are not performed; the volume of
incinerator emissions is estimated theoretically in the process of getting a permit for its operation
and later is to be adjusted and monitored by its owner. Thus, monitoring and control over
emissions resulting from waste incineration is practically inexistent. Considerable deterioration of
environmental situation is observed during incineration of infectious wastes, which according to
generally accepted practice, undergo bromine chlorine disinfection prior to incineration; this leads
to still greater release of dioxins and furans; chlorine compounds are released in disposal fields as
well. Additional environmental problem is due to formal classification of fallouts following
incineration of domestic wastes and utilization of these fallouts in disposal fields that are not meant
for that.
In October 2013 a new global Mercury Convention generally known as Minamata
Convention was signed. This Convention reflects common position of the countries and their
attitude to the problem of mercury pollution as a serious threat for human health and
environment. Kazakhstan being an active participant of international agreements in the area of
environmental protection should undertake measures towards regulation improvement in the
field of mercury pollution. The first priority is capacity building of all the stakeholders regarding
management of goods and wastes containing mercury.
Job description: To achieve the objectives of the Project - «Update of the National
Implementation Plan, Integration of Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants into National
Planning and Rational Healthcare Waste Management in Kazakhstan» - (components 1, 2 and 3)
the following activities will be undertaken:
1. Update of the National Implementation Plan of Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants in terms of new POPs, including:
a) Preliminary review of the use and import of new POPs;
b) Identification of new sources of uPOPs;
c) Identification of industries using new POPs (industries processing wastes and
containing new wastes);
d) Assessment of POP monitoring system;
e) Finalization of the new POPs inventory Plan;
f) Development of preliminary text of new NIP chapters dealing with new POPs;
g) Development of an updated NIP related to Stockholm Convention given new POPs;
2. Development of capacity building program for the stakeholders on issues of POPs,
health care wastes and mercury, including:
a. Capacity building Program (training workshops) covering POPs risks, inventory, POPs
monitoring, institutional roles and responsibilities, POP control criteria, monitoring data
submitted by the parties concerned;
b. Capacity building Program (training workshops) covering risks of mercury use and
release into environment, inventory, sources of mercury emission and tracking data
across different data bases;
c. Training program on safe healthcare waste management.
h) Organization and holding 4 regional training activities on capacity building and
consultations with the stakeholders on issues related to uPOPs, risks, uPOP monitoring,
institutional roles and responsibilities, indicative legislation on POP control and measures of its
implementation, including1:
a. Development of training programs and training module;
b. Involvement of stakeholders into training workshops;
c. Involvement of reputable experts (in case an organization does have such staff
members);
d. Organization and reservation of facilities completely furnished for such workshops,
including meals for the workshop participants2
e. Availability of hand-outs for the participants;
i) Analysis of regulation of the use, production and import of mercury lamps as well as
disposal, collection, transportation and dumping of mercury containing wastes in Kazakhstan,
including:
a. Overview of legislative and regulatory requirements concerning regulation of mercury
lamps and mercury containing wastes, proposals regarding update of legislative regulation
of mercury containing lamps and wastes (in cooperation with the UNDP/GEF Project
«Promotion of Energy-efficient Lighting in the RK»);
b. Drafting Standard Rules of Handling Waste Mercury Lamps (in cooperation with the
UNDP/GEF Project «Promotion of Energy-efficient Lighting in the RK»).
Other responsibilities:
 Participation in the organization of workshops held by UNDP within the framework of the
given project implementation;
 Cooperation with NGOs within the framework of the project objectives;
 Development of a media article on the activity topic
 Gathering necessary information from other partners, stakeholders
1
Coverage of the following target groups: representatives of industrial companies, specialists of
specialized waste management companies, civil servants, members of testing laboratories and centers,
environmental non-government organizations
2 Assumed venues for the workshops: Atyrau, Shymkent, Karaganda and Ust-Kamenogorsk cities
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Regular reporting to the Project manager as to the progress of the services provision
Coordination of all the activities and reports with the Project manager
Submission of Final Report on work completion as well as all the developed materials in eformat
Implementation of other objectives in line with the requirements of the Project manager
Work with other Project experts, including an international one.
Expected outcomes and payments:
No.
Expected outcomes
Program on capacity building for the stakeholders
1
dealing with POPs, healthcare and mercury wastes is
completed
Preliminary report on review and assessment of the
current situation, assessment of the preliminary data
2
based on the inventory of new POPs and of sectors
using new POPs is completed
Assessment of the monitoring system and existing
3
capacity on mercury management is completed
Overview of legislative and regulatory requirements in
the field of regulation of mercury containing materials,
4
goods and wastes (hereinafter – mercury) and proposals
as to update of legislative mercury regulation is
submitted
4 training workshops held in pilot areas on capacity
building to address POPs risks, POPs monitoring,
5
institutional roles and responsibilities, indicative
legislation on POP control, including POPs and
measures of its implementation
Publication at least one article in printed media for the
6
sake of information dissemination
Drafting Standard Rules of Handling Mercury is
7
completed
Participation in the workshop and presentation of an
8
updated NIP for discussion
Updated NIP is completed and submitted to the
9
MoEPWR
Final Report of ToR implementation is ready and
10
submitted
Time
Payment
May
July
30%
July
August
SeptemberOctober
60%
October
November
November
December
10%
December
Responsibility:
 Accountability to the Project manager
 Ensure timely and good quality implementation of the Terms of Reference
 Ensure absolute implementation of the Contract requirements
Requirements to the materials submitted:
1. Report on review and assessment of the current situation, assessment of preliminary
data of POPs inventory and industries and overview and assessment of the national planning
system. Number of pages – at least 25 (font -Times New Roman14)
2. Capacity Building Program for the stakeholders on problem issues dealing with the
Project implementation (including 3 components). Number of pages – at least 15 (font -Times
New Roman14)
3. Overview of requirements and regulatory acts related to mercury lamps and proposals
on update of the legislative regulation of mercury lamps. Number of pages – at least 25 (font Times New Roman14)
4. Draf Standard Rules of Handling Waste Mercury Lamps. Number of pages – at least
10 pages. (font -Times New Roman14)
5. Media publication (an article). Number of pages – at least 2 (font -Times New Roman14)
6. Report on the work done.
Required knowledge and skills:
 Legal entity with at least 4-year experience of work in the organization and in holding
workshops and training activity on capacity building in the field of chemical safety and waste
management.
 Experience of project implementation in the field of chemical safety in international
organizations
 National experts in the field of chemical safety - staff members
 Experienced training staff to implement requirements described in the Terms of Reference
with adequate background in environmental and/or technical sciences.