National Specialist - Epidemiologist

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 with 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

• ISAVET curriculum rolled out at national and sub national levels • Draft animal health workforce strategy in place • Prevention and control plans of PZDs implemented • Country prevention/control plans, and surveillance strategy/protocols of PZDs prepared • Concept notes, LOAs, and web articles prepared • Regular updates provided on TADs epidemiology situation, notifications to GLEWS • Periodic technical reports prepared • BTORs submitted for clearance within 10 days of mission completion. • regular project reports submitted

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the preparation of country strategies and program for the management of high impact emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases in line with the identified national priorities and FAO’s Strategic Framework • Participate in and support the design and implementation of national strategies and programs/projects following EMPRES/ECTAD strategies, in line with the FAO/ OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of TADs and Regional priorities, • Support the design, coordination, and implementation of surveillance activities relevant to emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases as well as AMR to mitigate the high (current/potential) impact of diseases in Zambia. These include: o Supporting appropriate stakeholder training, workshops and facilitate discussion and development of a relevant and appropriate surveillance approach that addresses national and regional priority diseases to target through a surveillance that addresses national and regional priority diseases to target through a surveillance program. o Support the drafting of a concept notes, LoA, preparation, and implementation of national surveillance plan for priority zoonotic and emerging zoonotic diseases (PZDs) in livestock. o Contribute to development and the implementation of surveillance protocols (epidemiological sampling) from livestock in targeted livestock farming systems, value chains and at domestic animals-wildlife-human interfaces. o Support and strengthen a functional national and sub-national epidemiology and laboratory networks. o Plan, organize and implement capacity development of in-service professionals through the use of field epidemiology training and participatory epidemiology approaches targeting veterinarians, animal health technicians, community animal health workers, farmers, and where appropriate, public health or other relevant stakeholders/partner o In close consultation with relevant sectors and stakeholders, facilitate the adoption and roll-out of In-service Applied Veterinary (ISAVET) as an entry point to strengthen the animal health workforce at national and sub-national levels o Assist in the organization of planned training workshops, simulation exercise and technical meetings o Conduct risk assessments at the human/livestock/wildlife interface and participate to in-country expert missions on epidemio-surveillance..Contribute to development and implementation of AMR surveillance protocols from livestock in priority livestock value chains. o Participate in animal health emergency preparedness and contingency planning exercises, or tabletop scenarios. o Facilitate the process for the formulation and /revision of animal health control and / OH strategies in Zambia o Prepare regular epidemiological updates and timely situation reports on major diseases in the country • In close consultation with relevant sectors and stakeholders, initiate a national zoonotic disease control program to serve as an One Health collaboration. • Facilitate closer linkages of the FAO component of the GHS program and other country office programs with relevant Ministries and other technical partners • Provide immediate notification to the ECTAD Zambia Team Leader and GLEWS of any significant epidemiological events and contribute to epidemiological intelligence at National and Regional levels • Contribute to the preparation of regular reports on the progress of the implementation of projects implemented by ECTAD Zambia for FAO, donors or other stakeholders. • Contribute to resource mobilization efforts through developing project concept notes and proposals that aim to mitigate the impacts of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (rEIDs), non-zoonotic diseases and AMR. • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING,

Minimum Requirements

• A degree in the field of Veterinary Medicine • Master’s degree in the Veterinary Epidemiology • Five years of relevant experience including data analysis, research and policy analysis 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 technical epidemiological 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 operations/activities? 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.