Disease Status Officer – Status Department – WOAH HQ – Paris, France

Under the authority of the Deputy Director General, International Standards and Science and the direct supervision of the Head of the Status Department, and in close cooperation with other officers in the Department.

The Disease Status Officer contributes to a transparent and secured animal health situation in WOAH Members countries. He supports the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases’ mission to ensure the delivery of high-quality and scientifically-based assessments of applications (and maintenance of) official animal health status recognition and control programmes endorsement, based on compliance with WOAH standards. He also supports the scientific excellence of the WOAH activities by contributing to the revision of these standards and to the continuous improvement of the procedure for official recognition of animal health status.

1-     Contribute to the monitoring of the compliance of Members countries having obtained official animal health status or endorsement of control programme with requirements for the maintenance of their status

·       Screen the annual reconfirmations received from Members countries Members countries in accordance with the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code), the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Manual) and the applicable WOAH guidelines;

·       Communicate with the Members countries and the WOAH Regional Representations when relevant;

·       Prepare a short report of screening for the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases’ consideration;

·       Follow-up the result from the deliberations.

2-     Contribute to the implementation and follow-up of the procedure for official recognition of animal health status

·       Assist Members countries in the correct procedures for the preparation and submission of dossiers for the evaluation of official animal health status or national control programmes for specified diseases;

·       Support the refinement and continuous improvement of the WOAH procedures for official animal health status recognition (administrative, science/technical aspects);

·       Contribute to the international standards setting process, in particular to the harmonisation of the requirements for recognition of diseases status and the revision of standards related to these diseases.

3-     Provide support to the work of the relevant ad hoc Groups

·       Prepare background and working documents for relevant ad hoc Groups, in line with the TORs;

·       Screen and process applications in accordance with the provisions of the Code, the Manual and applicable WOAH guidelines;

·       Liaise internally with relevant departments to ensure compilation of cross-cutting relevant information;

·       Provide Secretariat functions to the ad hoc Group meeting ensuring compliance with WOAH procedures;

·       Prepare the report of the ad hoc Group meeting and any supporting document;

·       Liaise with the relevant Specialist Commissions;

·       Follow up actions arising from meetings

4-     Provide support to Members countries self-declarations

·       Contribute to provide assistance to Members countries and ensuring consistent application of the procedure;

·       Perform a technical and administrative screening of self-declarations;

·       Contribute to improving the visibility of self-declarations.

5-     Contribute to training activities concerning preparation of dossiers

•    Analyse structure and content gaps between submitted applications and requirements;

•    Design training programmes and training material aimed at improving the quality of submitted dossiers and their compliance with the relevant chapters of the Code;

•    Deliver regional training sessions and monitor impact.

6-     Provide technical advice and support on the work of the Status Department

•    Contribute to the preparation of responses to enquiries from Members countries and other stakeholders;

•    Prepare relevant documents and undertake analysis as required.

In addition, the Head of Department may, when necessary, assign to the incumbent any other duties within his area of competence.