Animal Health Officer (One Health Intelligence and Early Warning)

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO's Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

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 area of animal health, genetics, feed and animal husbandry and provides analysis, policy dialogue (including intergovernmental bodies) and technical assistance. It also supports emergency responses, mostly in animal health.

The post is located in the Animal Health Service (NSAH) to support the implementation of FAO's One Health priority programme area (OH PPA). The OH PPA aims to have strengthened and better performing national and international integrated OH systems for human, animal and plant health achieved through improved pest and disease prevention, early warning and management of national and global health risks, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and environmental health, for optimal outcomes for production and global health security. The early warning component is coordinated under the framework of the Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES) for transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases. The OH PPA is co-implemented by the Joint Centre for Zoonoses and AMR (CJWZ), the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA), and the Office for Emergencies and Resilience (OER), through coordination across FAO programmes and divisions, and through the coordinated actions with the Tripartite and UNEP, and other partners at global, regional and country scales.

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

Reporting Lines The Animal Health Officer (One Health Intelligence and Early Warning) reports to the Senior Animal Health Officer (Infectious Diseases), under the overall supervision of the Chief, Animal Health Service/Chief Veterinary Officer-FAO. S/he works in close collaboration with the Senior Animal Health Officer, Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES) team, and other units in NSA, CJWZ, other divisions involved in the PPA at global, regional and country levels, and in support to Decentralized Offices as well as the ECTAD country teams.

Technical Focus One Health (OH), transboundary and emerging diseases, animal health systems and services, One Health workforce and capacity development, surveillance and risk assessment and early warning.

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 FAO's Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates on Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy 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 Countries, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, 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 Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions

• Leads the development of policies, strategies, knowledge products and advocacy and other technical resource materials to strengthen in-country animal disease reporting on transboundary animal and zoonotic disease events, and notification to global information and early warning systems including the Emergency Prevention Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i ), and the Global Early Warning System (GLEWS) platform.
• Coordinates FAO collaboration with external partners to develop methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to build One Health interoperability and data exchange mechanisms between human and animal health surveillance information systems.
• Leads the development of tools and other resources for simultaneous disease event reporting and two-way information exchange, analytics and dashboards for One Health surveillance systems in countries, and between countries and international organizations on zoonotic diseases and other One Health threats including AMR.
• Leads the conduct of scoping and interoperability assessments and development for commonly used animal and human health disease reporting applications/tools including the Event Mobile Application (EMA-i) and EMPRES-i, District Health Information Software (DHIS2) and other relevant animal and human health information systems.
• Convenes and leads technical advisory groups and other working groups as needed to support development, testing and implementation of policies, strategies, knowledge products, technical standards and new tools and technologies for integrated One Health surveillance and early warning.
• Coordinates the FAO support to establish international animal health data standards for integrated animal and human health and One Health surveillance.
• Facilitates the development of agreements between FAO and external partners supporting collaborations as required for the implementation of activities to strengthen One Health early warning integrated systems.
• Provides inputs, guidance and technical advice on aspects of One Health early warning systems and multisectoral disease surveillance at the human-animal-ecosystem interface.
• Leads the country pilot testing of One Health surveillance and early warning tools and resources and development of supporting training materials and information products.
• Facilitates and contributes to national assessments (e.g. Joint External Evaluation, OIE Performance of Veterinary Services, and FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool missions) and FAO/OIE/WHO Tripartite Zoonoses Guide Operational Tools implementation to support pilots of One Health interoperability mechanisms and early warning systems.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in veterinary medicine, veterinary epidemiology, public health, preventive medicine or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in animal health, infectious disease management, implementation of surveillance, early warning systems, field epidemiology, investigations and risk assessments through official veterinary and health services and international organizations.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official 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 in international animal health in different regions and international organizations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in prevention and control of animal diseases, in particular related to surveillance, One Health, early warning systems, capacity development and health systems strengthening.
• Extent and relevance of experience in animal/One health projects and programmes management, working with other One Health partners management, working with other One Health partners.
• Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries and countries in transition.
• Ability to mobilize resources.