PPR Control Specialist

Overview

Provide technical expertise on PPR control in Europe and Central Asia.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Veterinary Medicine or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in PPR control programs, especially in assisting countries to comply with WOAH technical requirements towards achieving official country freedom.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, desirably in field locations in Central Asia and Caucasus.
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support at local, national, or regional levels.
• Familiarity with and understanding the work of international organisations, regional entities, and national governments.
• Excellent communication, writing, and reporting skills.

Organizational Setting

The Animal Production and Health department provides technical assistance on animal health in Europe and Central Asia. The department is responsible for programmes and activities related to strengthening veterinary systems, often with a One Health approach, and develops practical strategies and guidance to address endemic and emerging health threats, the assurance of safe trade, efficient production and food safety. Consultants and subscribers to personal service agreements (PSA.SBS) represent a very important source of expertise for FAO. For FAO to be able to attract and employ the best possible experts in the wide range of technical areas of its mandate, a competitive selection process has been introduced. This process is intended to create a pool of candidates which can be timely called upon when their expertise is required, ensuring a transparent and rigorous selection process.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO REU Assistant Director-General, and the direct technical guidance of the FAO REU Senior Animal Production and Health Officer.

Technical Focus

The Specialist works as part of a closely collaborating team. Peste de petits ruminants (PPR), a devastating transboundary disease of small ruminants, is a significant constraint to livestock production and trade. Three current projects aim to assist countries in Europe and Central Asia to obtain the country freedom status for PPR from the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH).

Tasks and responsibilities

We seek a highly experienced specialist to contribute technical expertise across a range of activities, collaborating closely with national teams in each country as well as with the veterinary authorities of each country. The Specialist will cover the following tasks: • Provide technical assistance in the development of the PPR Contingency Plan and the National Control Strategy in selected countries. • Review the current legal, institutional, and technical frameworks related to PPR prevention and control in selected countries. • Review existing PPR surveillance protocols and ensure that the sampling design and laboratory testing meet WOAH standards. • Where they don’t exist, assist in designing epidemiologically sound serosurveillance protocols for PPR in selected countries. • Assist national laboratories in setting up appropriate testing schemes and interpretation of results. • Assist national authorities to meet all technical requirements of WOAH for official country freedom. • Conduct, if required, missions to selected countries to assess the progress and preparedness for an application for country freedom to WOAH. • Write reports following missions in selected countries, which will indicate the way forward toward successful dossier preparation. • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Consultants)/University degree (PSA.SBS) from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESC in Veterinary Medicine or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience. • Minimum 10 years of experience in PPR control programs, especially in assisting countries to comply with WOAH technical requirements towards achieving official country freedom • Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core 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, desirably in field locations in Central Asia and Caucasus. • Extent and relevance of experience in PPR control programs. • Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support at local, national, or regional levels. • Familiarity with and understanding the work of international organisations, regional entities, and national governments. • Excellent communication, writing, and reporting skills.

Selection Criteria

• Proven experience in Central Asia and the Caucasus, particularly on transboundary animal diseases control. • Experience on working with the technical requirements of WOAH for official country freedom

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Potential interview questions

Added 7 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: fao.org