Air Quality Expert - Based in ASEAN (M/W)

Expertise France is the public agency of French international technical cooperation. The agency operates around four priorities:

• democratic, economic and financial governance;
• security and stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations;
• sustainable development;
• strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France carries out engineering and implementation missions for capacity building projects, mobilizes technical expertise and acts as an aggregator of projects involving public expertise and private know-how.

With an activity volume of 233 million euros, more than 400 projects in portfolio in 80 countries, and 63,000 days of expertise, Expertise France focuses its action towards France’s solidarity policy, influence and economic diplomacy.

The regional/local based expert will contribute towards ensuring the delivery of high quality technical content of the project and will play a key role in its implementation, in close collaboration with Jakarta-based project coordinator. During the 12-month period, the expert will support the project in assessing and enhancing the capacity-building activities and reviewing the air quality studies on a basis of a daily mobilization volume defined each quarter.

The expert will be tasked to support technical discussions and decisions of the project such as:

• Technical facilitation of exchanges with beneficiaries (e.g., the national focal points (NFPs)) to clarify their needs and constraints;
• Prepare, discuss, review and contribute to the terms of reference for the activities implemented by EF for AQIP ASEAN;
• Follow-up and review of working documents and deliverables from consultants (studies and tools for disseminating results such as presentations, guidelines, training);
• Support in the preparation and formalization of the program (technical content) of study visits highlighting the examples of success and good practices (in France and in ASEAN).

• Supervising activities (e.g.,training, study visits) implemented by consultants,
  • Analyze and clarify potential synergies between the various components of the AQIP program, as well as with programs run by other divisions or partners of the ASEAN Environment Division.
  • Identify short-term expertise needs to support the coordination unit and carry out program activities.
  During the period of implementation of AQIP, additional studies or capacity building on air quality, on behalf of AFD, could be expected. Such activities will be have to be defined progressively, based on the discussions with the beneficiary and the prioritisation of their needs.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) aims to support the public policies of its South East Asian partners to improve air quality. To this end, the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) was designed and has been structured into two distinct components :

• The first involves setting up operational support of specific air quality management related programs at the national level in three countries in the region, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.
• A second component, is on an ASEAN scale intended to develop actions to improve public policies on air quality management at the regional level with key activities inclusive of the preparation of technical studies and organising capacity building activities such as training programs and study tours.

While these two components are being implemented separately, there is a need to explore complementarities so that the activities carried out in each component benefit the other.

Expertise France (EF), as the implementing agency for the second component, has the following responsibilities:

• Steering, managing and coordinating the AQIP ASEAN project;
• Ensure the production and implementation of all project activities, by mobilizing the necessary expertise, both public and private, and ensuring the associated procurement and contracting processes are efficient and transparent ;
• Ensure the mobilization of logistical resources in the implementation of the various activities;
• Ensure the follow-up, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the project, both for the beneficiary (ASEAN) and for AFD and its own needs are fit for purpose;
• Ensure communication and visibility for this cooperation project, which is strategic for AFD and ASEAN.

Throughout the project, the activities and results of the national component will be passed on by AFD and taken into account by the EF project team in the activities of the ASEAN component, based on their relevance, in order to ensure optimal, coordinated progress for both project components.

The expert is expected to have an in-depth international expertise of air quality issues. A local knowledge of the regional sector and programmes would also be an asset.

The expert will need to possess the following diplomas and/or experiences:

• Graduate degree in Environmental Engineering /Environmental Science/ Environmental Planning/ Physics/ Chemistry / Chemical Engineering/ Environmental Economics/ Public Policy/ International Development and Cooperation
• At least 5 years’ expertise on air pollution issues and public policies to improve air quality;
• 3 years’ expertise at international level, working with foreign institutions, ministries and international agencies and/or programs;
• 2 or 3 experiences in supporting and implementing activities on air quality improvement in South East Asia or similar context;

Skills:

• Good skills in coordinating partners and service providers;
• Good command of international cooperation mechanisms and players;
• Very good written communication skills (drafting of analysis documents, minutes, activity reports, definition of terms of reference, etc.) and oral communication skills (technical and institutional representation, negotiation);
• Excellent command of English essential (oral and written).

Abilities:

• Sense of diplomacy, excellent interpersonal skills;
• Initiative, autonomy and responsiveness;
• Good adaptability in a multicultural context (ASEAN & beneficiaries, EF HQ, Coordination and Management Unit);
• Ability to communicate remotely and be accountable;

Sense of organization and anticipation.

I. Condition of the mission

Duration of the contract: 12 months - renewable

Beginning of the mission: January 2024

Budget: Based on candidate’s profile and on Expertise France’s expertise grid

Working conditions: Individual expertise contract - 100 days max

The individual contract is remunerated on a fee basis (days). The effort required for each period is defined by a purchase order, agreed with the coordinator. The experts invoices are issued once time sheets and associated deliverables have been validated.

Expertise France covers the logistical costs (including travel insurance) of the experts missions. The expert has access to Expertise Frances offices and meeting rooms, and will be supported by the local team to ensure the smooth running of his/her missions.

Working equipment (PC, telephone, connection, licenses) are to be provided by the expert.

Documents to be provided:

• CV (Europeaid format) in English with references linked to the position
• Cover letter in English

The interviews will be organised with the selected persons.