One Health Expert
Provide technical and strategic advice on preventative One Health implementation
Overview
Provide technical and strategic advice on preventative One Health implementation
You have:
- An advanced university degree (MSc level or higher) in ecosystem health or a related field is required.
- A minimum of 7 years of relevant post graduate experience is required.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
- Working knowledge of French is an advantage.
- Experience in emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses is desirable.
- Experience in biodiversity, wildlife, and ecosystems health is desirable.
- Experience in health systems policy is desirable.
- Experience in antimicrobial resistance is desirable.
- Experience in food systems and their interlinkages with health is desirable.
- Experience in social, economic and behavioural sciences relating to One Health is desirable.
Result of Service The expected outputs will help UNEP and the Secretariat to operationalize the N4H initiative. The output generated will enhance technical understanding of preventative One Health across the initiative and establish a common understanding among the Consortium Partners, the various stakeholders and the Secretariat on the desired outcomes to improve understanding of the links between health of the environment and human and animal health.
Work Location Remote
Expected duration 11 months
Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division engages with governments and other partners to develop and promote ecosystem-based solutions for sustainable development. This assignment is in the Wildlife Unit of the Biodiversity and Land Branch. This assignment is intended to support UNEP's Biodiversity and Land Branch in its role as Secretariat of the Nature for Health (N4H) Fund during the first year of the operational phase. With a secretariat based at UNEP, the aim of N4H is to support evidence-based decision-making, action and capacity development to mainstream biodiversity and climate into sectoral policies and pandemic prevention strategies. It aims to achieve more holistic policy making by creating further evidence for the links between biodiversity, climate and health, as well as by working with actors on the ground to demonstrate how cross-sectoral approaches, as well as environmental dimensions, can be fully integrated to prevent future pandemics.
Under the overall supervision of the Biodiversity and Land Branch Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Head of the UNEP One Health Team, the consultant will undertake the following duties:
1. Provide ongoing technical and strategic advice on preventative One Health implementation, in the context of the Nature for Health initiative, including on aspects of multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination, as well as on zoonotic disease emergence/reemergence and spillover events; 2. Advise on and review approaches and specific studies relevant to the development of a global approach to reduce environmental aspects of risk, including risk of zoonotic pandemics; 3. Prepare various strategic and technical written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, strategic documents, guidelines and policy recommendations etc., as required by UNEP to carry out the duties of N4H Secretariat; 4. Provide technical and expert input into the development of funding proposals and project concept notes; 5. Provide technical support to N4H Consortium and Country Partners on strengthening One Health systems and implementing the N4H Terms of Reference. 6. Provide technical support for the process of collaboratively building and maintaining the N4H partnership, its governance mechanism and programmatic structure 7. Co-design N4H operational work and in the particular the enquiry and design phase to enable Country Partners and Consortium Partners to submit a detailed work plan for implementation, which and might include engagement and training, toolbook development and rollout of approach. 8. Design, facilitate and manage a Learning Network for countries to share OH knowledge and create opportunities for collaboration and support among countries, which might include tools, materials, resources, occasional webinars and other opportunities to meet with peers and experts). 9. Facilitate Consortium Partner's meetings and working groups for the operational phase to share technical knowledge and ensure there is an evidence-based discussion and shared outcomes for stakeholder groups. 10. Provide technical papers and materials to support the Technical Advisory Group and ensure they can contribute effectively to achieving the N4H objectives.
Qualifications/special skills Required education qualifications: An advanced university degree (MSc level or higher) in ecosystem health, environmental health, public health or veterinary medicine or a related field relevant to One Health is required. A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of Advanced degree. A minimum of 7 years of relevant post graduate experience is required. Experience in: i. emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses; ii. biodiversity, wildlife and ecosystems health; iii. health systems policy; iv. antimicrobial resistance; v. food systems and their interlinkages with health; and vi. social, economic and behavioural sciences relating to One Health, Planetary Health or Eco-health is desirable.
Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of other UN language (s) is an advantage.
No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you provided technical advice on health and environmental issues? | This question assesses your experience and ability to provide strategic guidance in complex situations. | Use a specific example showcasing your analytical and advisory skills. |
| How do you approach multi-sectoral collaboration in health initiatives? | The interviewer wants to gauge your experience with collaborative approaches. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What are the key elements you consider when developing proposals for health initiatives? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience with pandemic prevention strategies. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you facilitate knowledge sharing among partners in an initiative? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |