Animal Health Officer

Organizational Setting The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) has a key role in assisting Members on livestock development, health and policies to achieve the growth and transformation of the livestock sector and progress towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Animal Health Service (NSAH), part of NSA, is primarily concerned with aspects related to the prevention, detection and timely response to health threats of animal origin (zoonotic diseases, transboundary animal diseases, production diseases, diseases of wildlife, arthropod-borne diseases, food safety, antimicrobial resistance) that affect public health or efficiencies, sustainable livestock production and conservation efforts. NSAH capacity development work ensures the strengthening of veterinary systems at national and regional level and bridges agriculture development, public health and ecosystem health.

As a component of the One Health (OH) Programme Priority Area (PPA) of the FAO Strategic Framework, the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases (EMPRES) develops frameworks and tools for improved early warning, early detection, preparedness and response to transboundary pests and diseases (including transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases). Through the EMPRES - Global Early Warning System (GLEWS), intelligence on diseases and drivers is collated, and risk assessments, alerts and forecasting of high impact animal diseases is provided to Members. Information is also shared with Tripartite (soon to be Quadripartite) partners through the Joint FAO - the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)- the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Early Warning System (GLEWS ) for threats at the human-animal interface.

Frameworks, strategies, tools and guidelines for early warning, surveillance, risk assessment, integrated One Health Intelligence and information sharing for improved producer and national biosecurity are developed by EMPRES to enhance country capacities to build resilience to epidemic and pandemic risks.

The post 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 Chief, Animal Health Service/Chief Veterinary Officer, NSAH, and works under the direct technical supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer, EMPRES-Animal Health, and technical guidance of the Animal Health Officer in charge of One health Intelligence and Early Warning and the Animal Health Officer, Global Surveillance Coordinator. S/he works in close collaboration with the technical units in NSA, the joint Centre for Zoonoses and AMR (CJWZ), other FAO centres/divisions/offices, and the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) teams and Decentralized Offices at all levels.

Technical Focus The Animal Health Officer will support the early warning pillar within the One Health Programme Priority Area of FAO (including transboundary and emerging zoonotic diseases) with a focus on disease intelligence, surveillance and risk assessments, tools for integrated data capture, monitoring and forecasting of risks at the human-animal-environment interface. These activities will also contribute to progressive biosecurity along value chains to reduce risks of spillover and disease transmission.

Key Results Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional, and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services • Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages. • Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects. • Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases. • Participates on multidisciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other centres/divisions/offices and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices. • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools. • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations. • Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions • Enhance existing systems for surveillance, risk assessment and risk communication on emerging transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases (APPDs), including zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-plant-environment (HAPE) interface. • Contributes to the One Health approach in collating intelligence and monitoring high risk interfaces by collaborating with the Quadripartite. In particular, contribute to the FAO activities within the Quadripartite One Health Intelligence System (OHIS), support the GLEWS/GLEWS teams. • Supports and promotes activities to strengthen country capacities on mulitisectoral risk assessment at the interface and along the livestock value chain, risk-based surveillance as well as on information sharing and networking/communication using the one Health approach. • Provides inputs, guidance and technical guidance on development of national One Health early warning systems and multisectoral disease surveillance at the human-animal-ecosystem interface to support the One Health Joint Plan of Action. Leads the country piloting of One Health frameworks and tools for surveillance and early warning and development of supporting training materials and information products. • Supports the development of a national biosecurity implementation plan and coordinate activities to improve national and community biosecurity capacities through the implementation of FAO Progressive Management Pathway for Terrestrial Animal Biosecurity (PMP-TAB) and expand the toolkit of resources suitable to adequately assess and manage risks of COVID-19 and other APPDs including emerging and zoonotic diseases along livestock and wildlife value chains. • Participates actively in the dialogue with stakeholder at all levels to develop and deliver coordinated strategies that support complementary initiatives, in particular those already established at the country and regional levels. These stakeholders include national and local governments, academia, industry sectors, consumers/local and indigenous peoples, the Quadripartite (NGOs, regional political-economic groups, associations and donors. • Supports the coordination/development of Wildlife surveillance frameworks and information sharing networks/platforms for monitoring disease risks in wildlife value chains/flyways, to enhance sharing and integration of intelligence for risk assessments and forecasting. • Supports the production of disease situation updates, briefings on emerging disease risks and other guidance documents as required. • Supports the work planning and coordination of early warning projects in the Animal Health Programme unit, and the transversal planning with regional and country teams on early warning, biosecurity activities.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in veterinary medicine, epidemiology, public health, biology, ecology, One Health or in a discipline relevant to the duties listed, including technical areas listed above. • Five years of relevant experience in integrated early warning systems, surveillance, assessment of health systems, risk assessment modelling. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – 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. • Extent and relevance of experience international and/or regional Organizations and/or Institutions on One Health approaches in the following areas: integrated early warning systems, surveillance, assessment of health systems, risk assessment modelling. • Extent and relevance of experience in epidemiology, data analysis, risk assessment and modelling applying multisectoral One Health approaches. • Experience in emerging infectious diseases and wildlife diseases is an asset. • Experience in project coordination and project management. • Familiarity with software development cycle and information systems, data architecture and systems interoperability.