Consultant on the regulation of mercury-added cosmetics

Result of Service

The expected result of the consultant’s work is a draft report on the challenges and current and planned measures to control mercury-added cosmetics.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a legally-binding agreement, which was adopted by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries in 2013 and entered into force in August 2017. The fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-5), in decision MC-5/5, invited Parties and relevant stakeholders to submit information to the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention, by 30 June 2024 on challenges in preventing the manufacture, import and export of cosmetics listed in Part I of Annex A to the Convention, as well as on current or proposed measures for addressing these challenges taken by Parties and others, including the Global Mercury Partnership. The Conference further requested the Secretariat to prepare a draft report, by 31 March 2025, compiling and synthesizing the information described above, addressing topics such as, but not limited to, the following: • phasing out sales and offers of sales of mercury-added cosmetics • strategies for discouraging the marketing, advertising and display of mercury-added cosmetics • advisories, detention lists and prohibited substances lists concerning mercury-added cosmetics • licensing and product ingredient approvals for cosmetics manufacturing facilities • developing and implementing product safety pledges for online platforms • raising awareness of the hazards of skin-lightening product use among physicians, dermatologists and beauty centre staff, as well as consumers and family members. Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer, the consultant will perform the following tasks: A. Development of the annotated outline of the report: While waiting for the submission of information, the consultant is to collect existing literature on the topic and develop an annotated outline of the report. B. Compilation of submissions: The consultant is to develop a structured compilation of the information submitted by 30 June. The compilation will be kept updated with late submissions. C. Development of the first draft: The consultant it to develop a first draft of the report covering the matters mentioned in COP decision MC-5/5. D. Presentation of the draft report and facilitation of review discussion: The consultant is to present the draft report at an online meeting of reviewing experts including the Minamata Convention Secretariat, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and Global Mercury Partnership, and facilitate the review discussion. E. Revision of the draft report based on expert input: The consultant is to finalize the draft report based on the review comments.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in environmental science, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, medicine, marketing, economics, political science, communication or related field isrequired. A bachelor’s degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying working experience in relevant field may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of ten years of experience in the field of environmental science, environmental policy, product regulation, health care, cosmetics, market study, policy analysis or closely related field is required.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential, including strong writing skills.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.