Animal Production and Health Officer

The Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Country Teams are dedicated to working with the government in preventing and controlling emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases by working closely with national stakeholders in the animal production and health sector. The tasks envisaged for this consultancy are to be carried out through the ECTAD, which is currently implementing a number of projects in various countries in Asia. 

The post is located in the Ministry of Agriculture, based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Animal Production and Health Officer (ECTAD Country Team Leader) reports to the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Indonesia, with technical guidance from the ECTAD Regional Manager based in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Management of the ECTAD Country Team, technical and management leadership and guidance and advisory services to the FAOR on animal health and One Health issues including prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) including zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety and One Health.

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the regional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams; leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks 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 Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.

Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.

Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions:

• Ensures smooth integration of animal health related activities within the FAO’s broader country programme under the FAO Representation (Country Programming Framework (CPF) F, including GEF-8); contributes towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme.
• Under the guidance and with support of the FAOR, liaises with the national government, development partners, multi-lateral agencies and national and international non-governmental organizations as well as the private sector in all matters related to the prevention and control of high impact transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and emerging infectious diseases including zoonoses.
• In close collaboration with the ECTAD Regional Manager, advises the FAOR and beneficiary government on technical and policy matters related to high impact TADs and EIDs including zoonoses.
• Develops appropriate country strategies and programmes for the control of TADs and EIDs in close collaboration with the beneficiary government, and in line with the country programming framework (CPF), FAO’s Strategic Framework and the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) II framework;
• Ensures smooth integration of ECTAD activities within the FAO’s broader country programme under the FAO Representation; contributes towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme.
• Supervises the preparation of project work plans, timely provision of inputs, organization of workshops, training programmes and liaison with responsible officers at national and sub-national levels for smooth coordination and delivery of ECTAD-implemented projects.
• With the advice and support of the FAOR, and leveraging existing funds, actively engages in resource mobilization efforts including preparation of concept notes and project proposals to expand animal health related projects that are identified as priorities by the government.
• Maintains links with the established national networks on diagnosis and epidemiology to exchange and share technical information particularly related to priority and high impact TADs and EIDs including zoonoses.
• Coordinates preparation of timely reports of the ECTAD-coordinated country reports as required by the government, FAO and donors.
• Provides leadership, supervision and managerial support to the ECTAD Country Team Members.
• Supervises and coordinates the implementation of various capacity development activities.
• Supports One Health (OH) capacity and platforms through enhancing collaboration and coordination with the public health, wildlife, environment, education and other relevant sectors with respect to zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance/use (AMR/U) using existing and new tools and guidelines.
• Conducts regular field missions in the country to monitor and ensure smooth implementation of project activities.
• In close collaboration with ECTAD Regional and Country Teams as well as other FAO members at the global and regional levels, coordinates emergency preparedness and rapid response activities in the country.
• Provides technical support for the publication of data generated from ECTAD country and regional project activities.
• Prepares and reviews briefs upon request from FAOR, ECTAD in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).
• Provides regular updates on TADs and EIDs situation in the country; provides timely update to the ECTAD Regional Manager of any significant epidemiological events.

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in animal science, veterinary science or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the management and implementation of animal health and One Health programmes, with at least five years of experience at the international level in developing countries and expertise in the Southeast Asia region.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience and/or knowledge of One Health, animal health and livestock production in project/programme formulation, planning, coordination and implementation of national or regional animal disease control programme.
• Work experience in the Asian region and/or with regional institutions like ASEAN and other relevant bodies.
• Extent and relevance of experience in liaison with partners and institutional contexts.
• Proven ability to mobilize resources.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500324