One Health Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes and facilitates the sustainable development and transformation of the livestock sector through integrating scientific and technical expertise and policy advice.  It hosts technical networks in area of animal health, animal husbandry, genetics, feed and One Health and provides policy and technical assistance to FAO Members for unlocking the potential of the livestock sector and contribute to FAO’s strategic framework and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The consultancy is located in the One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH-CJW), which is primarily concerned with preventing and reducing the risk and impacts of health threats of animal origin on productivity of the livestock sector as well as on public health. The NSAH-CJW coordinates global efforts to enhance access to animal health services as well as prevent and control high-impact animal diseases with the goal of increasing the availability of animal-source food and improve the livelihoods of livestock dependent communities and value-chain actors.  The NSAH-CJW also builds the capacity of animal health systems and promotes the One Health approach in collaboration with international and national partners to effectively address the emergence and spillover of health threats at the human-animal-environment interface including zoonoses, AMR and other food safety threats.

FAO’s work in One Health is guided by the One Health Priority Programme Area (One Health PPA) of its Strategic Framework under the Better Production Aspiration, and the Quadripartite’s One Health Joint Plan of Action (One Health JPA).

 

Reporting Lines

Within the One Health and Disease Control Group (NSAH-CJW), the incumbentreports directly to FAO responsible officers in One Health for functional and policy guidance, and work in close collaboration with FAO`s divisions, decentralized offices, One Health Technical Working Group (OH-TWG), the Quadripartite and other relevant partners.

Technical Focus 

Support the delivery of the One Health activities of the Joint Centre for Zoonoses and AMR (CJWZ) and the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).

 

Tasks and responsibilities

Following are the generic functions for which candidates are sought. Specific tasks and responsibilities will be defined in Terms of Reference prepared for different assignments, according to the profile orientation required and the selected candidates’ experience, qualifications and expertise.
The key functions will be as following (tasks will be assigned according to the specific profile):

•    Provide expert guidance on One Health-related activities including, but not limited to: 

–    Support the roll-out of the One Health JPA at regional and national levels in line with its Implementation Guide;
–    Facilitate the formulation of One Health national action plans (OH NAP) in line with FAO’s One Health PPA and the Quadripartite’s JPA though supporting the implementation of relevant projects at country and regional levels.
–    Support the planning, roll-out, implementation and monitoring of activities, projects and initiatives related to One Health.
–    Support the formulation and development of frameworks, strategies and projects for implementation of One Health activities;
–    Provide coordination support for projects and programs related to One Health coordination and implementation;
–    Undertake desk review studies and assessments on various topics related to One Health, including developing/reviewing One Health strategies and Frameworks;
–    Conduct epidemiological analysis, risk assessment and forecasting of  health threats requiring One Health interventions;
–    Support adaptation of existing information systems to improve collection of OH intelligence and information sharing within and across health sectors;
–    Develop and implement integrated and progressive One health and biosecurity management approaches for evidence-based risk management along value chains;
–    Support the coordinated implementation policies, strategies for progressive risk management at national regional and global level, and the strengthening of institutional capacities for progress in international OH and sanitary standards;
–    Support integrated surveillance on health threats, including AMR and zoonotic diseases;
–    Support the development of One Health technical guidelines/tools/products;
–    Provide support to strengthen FAO’s capacities/ tools, design and implementation of One Health monitoring and evaluation system in food and agriculture;
–    Contributing to implementation of One Health related projects in coordination with other stakeholders within and outside FAO.

•    Provide expertise in economics, with a view to supporting national OH investment planning 

–    Through working with national counterparts and FAO country and regional offices, support analysing, prioritizing and costing OH actions/initiatives in support of national investment planning;
–    Support the economic analysis of investment cases at country level
–    Support the profiling of potential international and local investors;
–    Lead/contribute to OH investment notes and other related documents and preparation for OH-relevant investment forum(s)

•    Support One Health knowledge and evidence generation and dissemination

–    Enhance One Health knowledge and evidence through Community of Practice (CoP) building and coordination in the One Health Knowledge Nexus in close collaboration with the Quadripartite and other key partners.
–    Support the design, organization, facilitation, and follow-up to priority multi-stakeholder events and other activities
–    Assess One Health knowledge gaps and needs liaising with diverse stakeholders and making use of the One Health Knowledge Nexus networks
–    Facilitate technical discussions for knowledge generation and critique and provide capacity development support to CoP members.
–    Undertake outreach activities, conduct training events, hold webinars, stimulate discussions and learning and promote participatory engagement linked to FAO’s Virtual Learning Centre to ensure co-learning contributes to the generation of One Health knowledge and evidence.

•    Support capacity development activities at national and regional initiatives, including but not limited to: 

–    Support the identification of the One Health core competencies required for Veterinary Services and other relevant sectors at national and field levels;
–    Support activities to improve national capacity to apply an extended One Health approach for risk management at interfaces and along value chains;
–    Design/develop the training curricular based on the required core competencies for relevant levels, and support the delivery and monitoring of progress in OH competencies through digital/blended and field based training methods, Prepare, organize, participate in and provide technical support for the One Health training/workshops.

•    Support internal and external advocacy, networking and partnership building for One Health: 

–    Contribute to extending the One Health approach to engage relevant sectors and disciplines including animal health, wildlife, environment, public, academia, research and private sectors at global, regional and national levels;
–    Support the One Health Technical coordination/ Working Group (OH-TWG) and support the coordination with internal and external partners on One Health- related activities;
–    Support partnership building and resource mobilization efforts for FAO and Quadripartite initiatives, assisting with profiling resource partners, match-making and engaging resource partners through a variety of means, including events and proposal design;

•    Perform other related duties as required.  
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements Depending on the Profile and orientation:

For Consultants:

•    Advanced university degree in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or otherwise related to FAO’s Programme of Work, including technical field disciplines;
•    At least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B) or 10 years (Category A) in one of the areas below:
•    One Health surveillance in food and agriculture sectors, specifically zoonotic diseases, AMR and other food safety threats;
•    Epidemiology, data analysis and risk assessment;
•    Monitoring and Evaluation;
•    Economics;
•    One Health-related activities (such as assessment, training, strategy);
•    Working with international and/or regional Organizations and/or Institutions;
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English. Knowledge of a second FAO language is an asset.

For PSAs:

•    University degree, technical specialization or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or otherwise related to FAO’s Programme of Work, including technical field disciplines;
•    At least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B) or 10 years (Category A) in one of the areas below:
•    One Health related matters activities (such as assessment, training, strategy);
•    Working with international and/or regional Organizations and/or Institutions;
•    Surveillance related to One Health in food and agriculture sectors;
•    Epidemiology, data collection, management, data analysis and risk assessment;
•    Economics, International partnerships.
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English is required.

 

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

 

Selection Criteria 

•    Post-graduate qualification veterinary medicine/science, epidemiology, public health, risk assessment, or in a discipline relevant to the management of One Health programmes such as economics, partnerships, including International experience as relevant
•    Relevant experience in the duties listed on OH-related matters with multi-disciplinary teams from animal and public health sectors;
•    Familiarity with liaising with FAO HQ and decentralized offices as well as the knowledge of protocol procedures will be considered an asset;
•    Strong communication skills in English alongside a second language.