Animal Health Officer (Team Leader - ECTAD and Antimicrobial Resistance)

Organizational Setting The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by a FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programs and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The FAO Representation in Senegal (FRSEN) current portfolio of projects includes activities related to agriculture, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management developed and implemented with humanitarian, transitional and development funding. The incumbent will contribute to the country's program and Livestock and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) related activities using One Health Approach.

The tasks envisaged for this position are to be carried out through the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), which is currently implementing a number of projects in various countries in Africa. Within the ECTAD framework, the Animal Production and Health Division (NSAH) is closely working with the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) under the Strategic Objective 5 (SO5) “Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises” to support various aspects of the animal health programs including AMR related activities covering other sectors under a One Heath approach.

Reporting Lines The Animal Health Officer reports to the FAO Subregional Coordinator for West Africa (SFW) under the overall guidance of the FAO Country Representative of Senegal. He works under the overall supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (NSAH), technical supervision of the ECTAD Global Manager and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Regional Manager for West and Central Africa (WCA).He/she will work in close collaboration with other members of ECTAD Regional team, Animal Health Units at headquarters (NSAH) and the animal health and productions officers at Regional Office for Africa (RAF) and SFW and with the Regional AMR Coordinator at RAF.

Technical Focus Animal health emergency interventions and AMR including regulatory aspects, livestock epidemic surveillance, One Health Approach.

Key Results Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of division programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with division objectives and FAO’s Strategic Objectives

Key Functions • Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-division committees, project teams, and working groups and/or provides specialised 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, online 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 • Coordinates closely with the ECTAD teams at regional and country levels as well as with national governmental authorities to promote safer cross-border movement of livestock and livestock products, and on technical matters related to the management of high impact emerging and transboundary animal diseases; • Coordinates and supports the implementation of AMR activities planned under the ongoing FAO projects that aim at mitigating public health and economic impacts of AMR in Senegal; • Leads, facilitates and contributes to the development of a national strategy on antimicrobial use (AMU) and AMR in agriculture, fisheries, food and livestock; • Advises and represents the FAO Representative on animal health issues and related public health issues in order to facilitate a more integrated and coherent project and program implementation in the country and enable the Organization to play a key role in all discussions on the development of policies and strategies; • Engages and collaborates with relevant national authorities, institutions, organizations and stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) national focal point and delegate on the development of the national strategy and to promote FAO/OIE/WHO Tripartite collaboration in support of the implementation of the Global Action Plan on AMR; • Leads the ECTAD team in Senegal, coordinates and supervises the work of staff and their activities and monitors their performance; • Performs other related duties as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in veterinary science/medicine, food safety, microbiology or a related field; • Seven years of relevant experience in animal health, infectious disease management, antimicrobial resistance, including regulatory aspects, and standard setting; • Working knowledge of French and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, 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 international animal health (regulatory and developmental) programmes; • Demonstrated experience in the implementation of activities in collaboration with public and private sectors; • Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other countries stakeholders; • Extent and relevance of experience in animal health, antimicrobial resistance, emergency interventions including regulatory aspects, livestock epidemic surveillance, One Health Approach; • Extend and relevance of experience in coordinating livestock teams and partners, standard setting, and in providing technical support to governments including on cross border collaboration in transboundary animal disease; • Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources; • Working knowledge of English is highly desirable.