TA-10243 REG: Enhancing Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive, Integrated Solutions (formerly Mainstreaming Circular Economy Approaches for Sustainable Development) - Circular Economy Specialist (South Asia Plastic Circularity Baseline Study) (E-057024-001)

1. Project objective

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

Asia and the Pacific has achieved major development gains, yet rapid growth has driven rising resource

use, ecosystem degradation, and climate pressures, with the region now responsible for 53% of global

emissions and generating 1.2 billion tons of municipal solid waste, projected to reach 1.9 billion tons

by 2050.

In particular, South Asia’s waste generation is increasing quickly, along with rising plastic

leakage into the environment, due to accelerating urbanization and consumption patterns.

South Asia's

efforts to address plastic pollution remain largely driven at the national level, resulting in uneven

progress across countries.

Initiatives such as the World Bank-lead PLEASE project have helped build

regional momentum and demonstrate the value of collaboration.

Moving forward, there is a need to

complement bottom-up country actions with stronger regional coordination mechanisms.

ADB's role is to

strengthen the enabling environment for bankable and scalable investments, while supporting knowledge

exchange and policy harmonization.

Strengthened regional platforms will be critical to align priorities,

accelerate implementation, and achieve greater impact at scale, drawing lessons from successful regional

approaches such as ASEAN's action on plastics.

The Nature and Environment Division (CCNE) of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development (CCSD) is

implementing a regional knowledge and support technical assistance TA 10243-REG: Enhancing Environmental

Sustainability through Inclusive, Integrated Solutions.

The TA will help ADB developing member countries

(DMCs) to adopt environmentally sustainable growth trajectories by providing targeted technical support,

policy advice, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, including through circular economy solutions.

To address plastic pollution reduction goals in South Asia, ADB will need to engage a Circular Economy

Specialist to prepare the South Asia Plastic Circularity Baseline Study.

objectives;

and inform the proposed revised South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)

Regional Marine Litter Action Plan for South Asia.

The specialist will: (i) lead desk review and

participate in stakeholder consultation sessions in the information gathering phase; (ii) prepare the

first draft assessment, for review and inputs from ADB, SACEP, and other key stakeholders; (iii) revise

and finalize the draft in response to comments;

and (iv) support ADB and SACEP to launch and disseminate

findings from the baseline study.

The specialist will be stationed in Colombo, Sri Lanka and is expected

to report in-person and work closely with the SACEP secretariat team to deliver the outputs of this

engagement.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

The Circular Economy Specialist (South Asia Plastic Circularity Baseline Study) will be responsible for

implementing the following tasks:

1.

Prepare initial outline and methodology for the regional assessment, for review and discussion with

ADB, SACEP, and other stakeholders

2.

Conduct desk research and stakeholder interviews to gather information on:

a.

Key trends, challenges, and opportunities across the plastics value chain in South Asia

b.

Case studies and lessons learned from other regional cooperation initiatives addressing plastic

pollution and circularity in Asia and the Pacific

c.

Financing mechanisms, investment opportunities, and policy frameworks and enablers to enhance

innovation, competitiveness, and circularity within South Asia’s plastics value chain

d.

Options and recommendations for strengthening regional cooperation to address plastic pollution and

advance circularity in the region

e.

Integrating the baseline assessment in a manner to inform a proposed SACEP Regional Marine Litter

Action Plan for South Asia

3.

Prepare and submit first complete draft assessment to ADB and SACEP, for review, comments, and inputs

4.

Revise and finalize draft assessment in response to comments

5.

Support SACEP and ADB to circulate regional assessment and findings through knowledge sharing

sessions, communications materials, and other channels

6.

Perform other tasks as reasonably expected by the ADB project team

Minimum Qualification Requirements

The consultant should have at least an advanced degree in a relevant subject (e.g., environmental

management, environmental engineering, waste management, sustainability, development studies, or related

topics) and professional experience and knowledge in conservation, pollution control, or environmental

management.

Experience working in South Asia and on projects supporting plastic circularity is required.

Familiarity with South Asia programs on circular economy or plastic pollution is essential.

Minimum General Experience 5

Years

Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment) 5

Years

Regional/Country Experience Required

Desired

Not Required

Deliverables

Details Name Type Estimated Submission Date

Initial draft regional assessment of plastic pollution and circularity in South Asia Report 15-Jan-2027

Final draft regional assessment of plastic pollution and circularity in South Asia Final Report 31-Mar-2027

Schedule and Places of Assignment (chronological and inclusive of travel)

Schedule Type Continuous

Intermittent

Max.

Working Days/Week Home Office 5

Field 6

City and Country Working Days Estimated Start Date Estimated End Date Other Details (use if place selected is Others)

Colombo, Sri Lanka Search and Select: Place

90 02-Nov-2026 30-Apr-2027

Total

90

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Copyright (c) 1998, 2023, Oracle and/or its affiliates.

All rights reserved.

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Scope of Work

The Circular Economy Specialist (South Asia Plastic Circular Baseline Study) will be responsible for

preparing, finalizing, and presenting findings from the regional assessment of plastic pollution and

circularity in South Asia, including key trends, challenges, and opportunities across the plastics value

chain;

case studies and lessons learned from regional cooperation initiatives in other regions,

including Southeast Asia;

financing mechanisms, investment opportunities, and policy enablers to enhance

innovation, competitiveness, and circularity within South Asia's plastics value chain;

options for

strengthening regional collaboration to address plastic pollution and advance circular economy

Extraction covers only the accessible source. Linked TORs and later addenda are not verified unless their text has been retrieved; a missing field never means no requirement.