National Laboratory Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. With presently 194 member states, and working in more than 130 countries worldwide, including Zambia where the Organization has operated since 1978. The main aim of the FAO country office, which is headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. The support is based on the guidelines as provided by the Country Programming Framework (CPF). The current Zambia CPF has four priority areas: (1) Improve production and productivity of crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry; (2) Sustainable management of the natural resource base and Increasing Resilience and Uptake of Climate Smart Agriculture; (3) Enhance food security and nutrition status; and (4) Improved market access and sanitary measures. The incumbent’s tasks will mainly contribute to the first priority area.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Emergence Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) is implementing a new project “Enhancing Animal Health and One Health capacities to mitigate zoonotic diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) risks and threats in Zambia”. This project is being supported by the USAID under the Global Health Security (GHS) programme. The project focuses on effectively supporting Zambia to build a sustainable animal health system and One Health capacities to mitigate risks and threats caused by emerging and re-emerging zoonosis, endemic zoonosis and AMR.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease Operations (ECTAD), under the overall supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator (NSAH), the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Zambia, the direct supervision of the ECTAD country Team Leader at FAO Zambia, in support to the ECTAD Zambia team, and the ECTAD Regional Team for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, and relevant animal health officers at FAO sub-regional Office for Southern Africa (SFS), the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Technical focus

• Laboratory component of ECTAD Zambia programmes submitted timely • Updates on zoonotic and TADs events, and related laboratory results provided • Veterinary laboratory network strengthened, and activities regularly updated • Reports on national veterinary laboratory capacity for pathogen testing and Proficiency Test results prepared • BTORs submitted for clearance within 10 days of mission completion, bi-weekly updates and regular project reports submitted • Inputs for project proposals, concept notes provided timely • Final technical report upon completion of the assignment submitted

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the preparation of country strategies and programme for the management of high impact priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs), as well as emerging, re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic disease, and AMR in line with the national priorities and FAO’s Strategic framework 2022-2031 • Coordinate the implementation of activities relevant to laboratory aspects of the FAO component of the USAID-funded Global Health Security Program (GHS program) in Zambia. These include: o Contribute in the framing and the implementation of diagnostic protocols to support surveillance plans and maintain the ISO17025 status of the veterinary laboratory o Ensure effective implementation of laboratory testing protocols for pathogen bio surveillance as per ECTAD Zambia GHS program country work plans o Contribute to Laboratory capacity assessments using the FAO laboratory mapping tool (LMT) and development of strategy for capacity development of national laboratories o Supervise the assessment of national laboratory veterinary capacity for pathogen testing of samples from livestock and livestock products o Link epidemiological and laboratory findings including positive epidemiological results with virus sequence accession number o Participate in country expert missions on field investigations o Liaise with the DVS and CVL for sample collection from livestock in targeted livestock farming systems, and at critical points along the value chains and at domestic animals-wildlife interfaces using appropriate biosafety/biosecurity measures o Support the collaboration between veterinary laboratory staff and field epidemiologists. o Supervise the preparation of lists of appropriate laboratory items for procurement for Zambia, along with draft technical specifications, taking into account laboratory requests when needed and monitor their good delivery to beneficiary laboratories. o Support capacity development of national laboratories through facilitation of training programs for laboratory personnel on new laboratory techniques/tools such as LMT, ATLASS, diagnostic techniques o Assist in the organization of planned training workshops, laboratory-related simulation exercise and meetings and other technical meetings, as needed o Support country participation in Proficiency Tests and coordinate troubleshooting actions o Support the strengthening of a functional national epidemiology and laboratory network in Zambia o In consultation with relevant national partners, prepare specifications for the procurement of laboratory consumables and related non-expendable equipment • Prepare regular reports on the progress of the implementation of laboratory aspects of projects implemented by ECTAD Zambia for FAO, donors or other stakeholders • Participate in animal health emergency preparedness and contingency planning exercises, or tabletop scenarios • Participate in weekly epi-lab weekly coordination calls, provide regular updates of TADs epidemiology situation immediate notification to the ECTAD Zambia Team Leader, of any significant diagnostic test results • Support ECTAD resource mobilization efforts • Undertake other duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A degree in the field of Microbiology, Veterinary Medicine or Biomedical Sciences or the equivalent • Master’s degree in the relevant field with experience in laboratory analysis. • Five years of relevant experience in laboratory diagnostics, research and stakeholder engagements is cardinal. • Working knowledge of the English language. • Should be a Zambian National

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting, advising and guiding the implementation of complex, multi-stakeholder projects; • Extent and relevance of experience in providing laboratory technical support for programme/project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset; • Extent of experience in formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects; • Familiarity with UN administrative, operational and financial procedures is an asset

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.