BACKGROUND INFORMATION

E-waste constitutes one of the fastest growing waste streams globally. In 2022, it was estimated that around 5.3 billion people were connected to the Internet and the number of mobile phone subscriptions is currently greater than the human population. Annually, an estimated 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated containing USD 57 billion worth of precious and valuable materials, in terms of their economic value. 
In line with Resolution 66, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) carries out a number of activities related to Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), or “e-waste” and in the areas of climate change and green digital transformation. As part of ITU’s work in the area of e-waste, the Telecommunication Development Bureau needs a dedicated consultant to perform a deep dive into the existing procedures and government digital services or offline services, available through the Government of Thailand. These procedures and services will relate to existing and foreseen registration and licensing requirements of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) importers, distributors, manufacturers, (producers), retailers and for the EEE products they place on the market in Thailand. In addition to the procedures, the deep dive will also include a review of the laws that justify these procedures and any upcoming laws anticipated to set similar requirements. 
The findings from the deep dive will feed the “administrative arrangements” chapter of a technical proposal report being prepared by ITU for the Government of Thailand under the project: ''Creating a Circular Economy for Electronics and Electricals in Thailand and in Mongolia.''
It is expected that the deep dive will identify existing procedures and services in which new obligations related to the environmental policy principle of Extended Producer Responsibility for electricals and electronics companies (namely registration with the EPR system), could be incorporated, in order to reduce the duplication of registration / licensing and / or reporting requirements for these companies and to reduce the administrative burden and barriers to trade. At the same time, it is anticipated that the incorporation of the EPR obligations within existing services and procedures will improve enforcement capabilities by the government through streamlining of data collection and monitoring.
The Government of Thailand has identified 4 strategic environmental regulations to be prepared and published in the coming years and these include: air pollution, plastic pollution, e-waste and climate change. 
This consultancy is designed to provide a mixture of advisory services, capacity building and stakeholders' consultation to support the preparation of fair and economically viable e-waste regulation, based on the EPR principle, with the objective to incorporate the findings of the deep dive into final technical proposal report to the Government of Thailand which will highlight the most appropriate approach(es) as part of the next steps to regulate e-waste, whilst considering the local context and ensuring alignment between the government and industry players.

''Creating a Circular Economy for Electronics and Electricals in Thailand and in Mongolia.''

In line with the WTDC-22 Kigali Action Plan, this project aims to provide technical assistance to several countries globally in the development of national e-waste management policies and regulations and to support them with innovative ways to implement these instruments. The project, a first step in a longer-term policy-level collaboration between ITU and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts (DITRDCA) of Australia, will support Thailand and Mongolia in the application of the EPR principle for e-waste management – a commonly adopted policy approach.
The project will build on the various normative documents which provide clear guidance regarding issues such as policy development, enforcement, financing e-waste collection and recycling and effective EPR. These resources, such as the ITU Policy Practices for E-waste Management and its Handbook for the Development of a Policy Framework on ICT/E-waste are ready and available to guide project implementation. The project will also build on the first phase of e-waste policy and regulatory development technical assistance already provided by ITU in several countries across the world.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Under the direction of the senior advisor and in close collaboration with the project team, the consultant, in Thailand, will: 

1. Support the ITU project team with the preparation of meetings with the representatives from the Government of Thailand ensuring that communication about the project progress and the resolution of any issues are done efficiently.
2. Undertake a comprehensive deep dive of the existing and any foreseen procedures and services in place in Thailand related to the registration or licensing of EEE producers (namely importers, manufacturers and distributors, retailers of EEE, EEE products, business operations or taxation.
3. Assist the organisation and facilitate consultations, bilaterals, meetings, interviews and surveys, both in person and online with government and industry stakeholders to gather inputs for the deep dive. Such consultations will be structured and organised in close collaboration with the ITU project team, ensuring alignment with other stakeholders' consultation-related project activities running in parallel.
4. Draft of a coherent and comprehensive EPR digital services design deep dive in writing and with visuals, using applicable online applications to display maximum 3 options for the digital service design, including a component on the user journey of EEE producers when using the to-be service.
5. Include capacity building elements in the entire process outlined as part of the description of duties. This is to maintain a high-level of understanding of the topics under discussion by all stakeholders, and to introduce new approaches, models and principles as the basis for discussion.
6. Participate in any public hearings and government focus groups related to the development of the draft WEEE Act in Thailand.

CONCRETE DELIVERABLES

1. Drafted write-up and visualisations of an EPR digital service design deep dive for the registration of producers with the EPR system for EEE of Thailand. 
2. Summarised short reports from any consultations with government and producer stakeholders during the undertaking of the deep dive. 

COMPETENCIES

• Progressive experience working with import procedures for companies and / or products in Thailand with any industry sector. 
• Advanced knowledge of government digital services and whole-of-government approaches to digital citizen and business services in Thailand. 
• Sound understanding of roles and responsibilities of the ministries, departments and offices and industry associations of Thailand. 
• Expertise in the preparation and facilitation of lively and consultative workshops and stakeholders' consultations.
• Knowledge of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education: Advanced university degree in business processes, import and trade related studies or in a related field such as IT service design.

Experience: At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience with specialization in the trade, business or IT sectors, or an equivalent level of education and specialization in a relevant field. This should include at least three years of work experience at the international level. 

A Doctorate in a related field can be considered as a substitute for three years of working experience. 

Languages: Knowledge of English and Thai at advanced level.

REMUNERATION INFORMATION

300 USD per working day (paid in lumpsum, 50 working days in total)