REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

For the Appointment of a Project Technical Officer

GEF-Funded Child Project: “Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria”

Project Title	Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria
GEF Project ID	11193
Post Title	Project Technical Officer
Implementing Agency	United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Executing Agency	National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
Funding Source	Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Project Duration	5 years
Duty Station	Abuja
Nature of Engagement	Full-time position
Indicative Total Work Period	5 years
Date of Issue of RFP	11 March 2026
Closing Date for Submission	24 March 2026

Background

The consumption of single-use plastic water sachets in Nigeria has become a major source of plastic pollution, with over 2.5 billion litres consumed annually. Today, there are over 32,000 sachet water producers nationwide. Once consumed, water sachets are often indiscriminately discarded, contributing significantly to plastic pollution in the country. This leads to clogged sewage systems, marine and freshwater leakage, harm to biodiversity, and increased risks of widespread diseases. These impacts pose severe hazards to the environment, biodiversity, and public health.

While government efforts to expand and improve pipe-borne water systems are ongoing, alternatives to plastic sachets are urgently needed given Nigerians’ high reliance on packaged water.

Against this backdrop, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided critical funding support for this project to reduce plastic sachet consumption while safeguarding access to safe drinking water. The GEF-funded project will advance sustainable solutions through the following key components:

1. Strengthening federal and sub-national policies and institutional capacities for ensuring accessible and safe drinking water.
2. Fostering public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand access to clean drinking water through circular economy solutions, eco-design, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
3. Piloting reuse models and community-owned initiatives to demonstrate the combined economic and environmental benefits of alternatives to sachet plastics.
4. Enhancing public awareness and stakeholder engagement to drive behavioral change and promote sustainable water consumption practices.
5. Ensuring effective communication and coordination throughout project implementation, particularly alignment with the Global Project under GEF.

This GEF investment contributes directly to the delivery of the UNEP Programme of Work on reducing land-based sources of pollution and achieving transformative impacts. The project is expected to generate measurable Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs), including:

• 350,078 metric tons of avoided residual plastic waste pollution (CI 9.8);
• 54.69 gTEQ POPs to air reduced (CI 10);
• 1,868,657 metric tons of CO₂ emission reduced (CI 6.7).

The project aims to generate measurable Global Environmental Benefits, including avoided plastic waste, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced persistent organic pollutants.

Achieving these outcomes requires strong technical coordination and oversight. NESREA therefore seeks to engage a qualified Project Technical Officer to provide technical support across all components of the project

Organizational Context

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has the responsibility for the protection and development of the environment, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable development of Nigeria’s natural resources. The Agency also promotes environmental technology, including coordination and liaison with relevant stakeholders within and outside Nigeria on matters relating to the enforcement of environmental standards, regulations, rules, laws, policies, and guidelines.

The NESREA Act empowers the Agency to:

• Enforce all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards, and regulations in Nigeria; and
• Ensure compliance with provisions of international agreements, protocols, conventions, and treaties on the environment to which Nigeria is a signatory.

In this project, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides the funding, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) serving as the Implementing Agency, while NESREA acts as the Executing Agency responsible for delivering project activities on the ground in Nigeria

Objectives of the Assignment

The Project Technical Officer will be responsible for providing technical support and oversight across all project components. Working closely with the Project Coordinator, the Technical Officer will ensure that policy development, private sector engagement, pilot projects, advocacy campaigns, and knowledge management activities are technically rigorous, evidence-based, and aligned with circular economy principles. The officer will also supervise and coordinate the work of technical consultants and experts engaged under the project.

Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Project Technical Officer will:

• Provide technical input and oversight across all five project components, ensuring alignment with project objectives and circular economy principles
• Liaison with policy and state planning experts, ensuring that subnational activities are not only scientifically sound and technically robust, but also well aligned with project objectives
• Draft Terms of Reference (TORs), supervise and coordinate the work of technical consultants, ensuring timely delivery and quality of outputs;
• Ensure technical supervision of EPR activities, fiscal policies, and engagement with financing institutions in collaboration with relevant experts;
• Provide technical expertise to the business support programme and associated pilot projects;
• Contribute technical inputs to the communication campaign and the Roadmap for circular systems in the water sector;
• Prepare all technical documentation for the Inception Workshop, including revised workplans and elaboration of project activities;
• Draft technical elements of project sub-contracts;
• Prepare technical sections of quarterly and annual progress reports;
• Review and edit all technical project reports;
• Coordinate tracking and reporting of outcome indicators and GEF Core Indicators;
• Capture lessons learned during project implementation;
• Support the Project Coordinator in developing annual workplans, budgets, and technical reports
• Represent the project in technical meetings with stakeholders and partners
• Co-draft the Inception Report within one month of the Inception Workshop;
• Ensure annual monitoring of project indicators in advance of GEF PIR submission deadlines;
• Support Mid-Term Review and Terminal Evaluation processes;
• Prepare technical documentation for Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and other coordination meetings;
• Contribute to the Integrated Programme and Global Project through documentation support and participation in virtual and in-person meetings;
• Ensure effective coordination with all technical partners and stakeholders.

Reporting and Supervision

The Project Technical Officer will:

• Report to the Project Coordinator / Senior Technical Advisor
• Collaborate with the Global Project Communications Team.
• Work closely with NESREA technical team and UNEP;
• Support Project Management Unit (PMU) coordination.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in Environmental Sciences, Waste Management, or related fields.
• Minimum of three (3) years (with Master’s degree) or five (5) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in waste management, plastics, and/or circular economy-related projects;
• Demonstrated experience in projects and publications related to plastic waste in Nigeria;
• Familiarity with UN and donor agency procedures is an added advantage.
•  Strong analytical and technical writing skills;
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent command of English (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis tools

Application Procedure

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

• A cover letter demonstrating suitability for the assignment;
• A detailed CV highlighting relevant qualifications and experience;
• Scanned copies of academic and professional certificates;
• Evidence of past engagements (appointment letters, reference letters, or similar documentation);
• A technical proposal (2–3 pages) outlining understanding of the assignment and proposed technical approach.

Applications should clearly state: “Project Technical Officer – Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution in Nigeria” in the subject line and be submitted to:

The Director General/CEO
NESREA Headquarters, Abuja

Email: dg@nesrea.gov.ng;  procurement@nesrea.gov.ng ; krisbeka@gmail.com; elichucks@gmail.com

Closing Date for Submission: 24^th March, 2026

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.

Signed

Director General/CEO
NESREA