Organizational Setting

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes and facilitates the sustainable development of the livestock sector, integrating scientific and technical expertise and policy advice. It hosts technical networks in areas of animal health, genetics, feed and animal husbandry and provides analysis, policy dialogue (including intergovernmental bodies) and technical assistance. Through the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES- AH), FAO supports Members' capacities to progressively prevent and control transboundary animal diseases, providing early warning, technical and policy guidance, deploying emergency responses, and strengthening animal health systems. FAO coordinates the work on prevention and control of high impact diseases with global and regional partners, harmonising policies and actions to progressively control priority animal diseases for sustainable livestock transformation and One Health in agrifood systems transformation towards the goals of FAO's Strategic Framework (2022-2031).

The position is located in the Animal production and Health Division (NSA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Animal Health Officer reports to the Senior Animal Health Officer (Infectious Diseases, EMPRES-AH), responsible for early warning, prevention, preparedness and response to high impact diseases, under the overall guidance of the Chief of the One Health and Disease control branch, and the overall supervision of the Director, NSA. S/he works in close collaboration with the technical units in NSA and other FAO Divisions/Offices/Centres.

Technical Focus

The Animal Health Officer will support the risk information sharing and early reaction to emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases, liaising with regional and country offices. S/he will provide improving global risk monitoring and early warning through the integration and analysis of surveillance and diagnostic data, enabling the generation and dissemination of timely risk information to support preparedness and response by Members.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with divisional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Improves global risk monitoring and early warning systems, by integrating and analysing data to generate and share timely risk information for effective preparedness and response; conducts analysis on evolution of epidemic and emerging livestock diseases, including changes in distribution, virulence, etc, and making such risk information available to FAO Members.
Coordinates communication of disease risk information, through situation reports, updates, alerts and risk communication products, including EMPRES-AH and related web pages.
Assists Member countries' early reactions to emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases (TADs) by facilitating and coordinating confirmatory diagnosis and advance analysis at FAO Reference centres, including promoting transport of diagnostic specimens in accordance with international regulations and advocating fast track under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Nagoya protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing for disease emergencies.
Develops standard operating procedures for surge support to outbreaks, including the deployment, and coordination of the emergency stockpile.
Provides Infectious Substances Shipping Trainings (ISST) to decentralized offices to ensure qualified individuals for handling and shipping biological samples and coordinate with World Health Organization (WHO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA), on updating requirement to support rapid diagnosis.
Contributes to quality of procurement under FAO field projects by serving as/or supporting Technical Competent Officers (TCO) as required.
Coordinates the FAO - World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) - African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Consultative group for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia for developing policy and technical guidance.
Coordinates collaboration with the WHO Global Influenza Programme on zoonotic influenza risk assessment and response.
Collaborates with other units of FAO, other international organizations (such as WHO, WOAH, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and Wild Animals), and regional organizations (such as Southern African Development Community (SADC), AU-IBAR, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)) in collaboration with FAO RO/SRO.
Designs and implements programmes and projects related to EMPRES-AH, including the formulation, appraisal of field projects, the recruitment and technical supervision of field staff and provide technical backstopping, and resource mobilization as required.
Assists in work-planning, monitoring, and year-end reporting using FAO Programme Planning, Implementation Reporting and Evaluation Support System (PIRES).

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in veterinary science/medicine, epidemiology or related subject.
Seven years of relevant experience in active disease surveillance programmes for epidemic diseases of livestock and in epidemiological analysis of outbreaks of such diseases.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
Extent and relevance of experience in surveillance, prevention and control of animal diseases, in particular transboundary animal disease eradication/control programmes.
A postgraduate qualification is considered an asset.
Work experience in computer-based disease mapping and geographical information systems (GIS) or in decision support systems for the control of epidemic diseases is required.
Extent and relevance of experience co-ordinating joint activities with other international organisations (such as WOAH, WHO).
Extent and relevance of experience on UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and other regulatory frameworks.
Experience in FAO Programme Planning, Implementation Reporting and Evaluation methodologies.
Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries and countries in transition.
Ability to communicate clearly to different audiences and partners on emerging disease situations.
Ability to mobilize resources is an asset.