Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been advocating and promoting the importance of multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach for health management encompassing preparedness, prevention, detection, and response of health threats such as zoonotic diseases (ZDs), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and food safety arising at human-animal-environment interface. The FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) assists governments to develop policies, programmes, and projects to address these threats and provides technical support for the sustainable development of their One Health (OH) initiatives.
Under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Global Health Security (GHS) Programme, several activities are being implemented in Mozambique in response to the recent upsurge in climate driven zoonoses and AMR. Subsequently, FAO is recruiting a National Consultant to review the 37 years old National Veterinary Medicines Formulary of Mozambique to align with current global best practices in the regulation and use of medicaments in animal production and health.  The position is based in the ECTAD office of the FAO Representation in Maputo, Mozambique. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through ECTAD, is dedicated to working with the national government in the country in preventing and controlling emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of public health importance and AMR.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator (NSAH), the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Mozambique and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader in Mozambique, and technical backstopping of the ECTAD regional team for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), the National Specialist will support the review of the Formulário Nacional de Medicamentos para Veterinária. Diploma Ministerial Nº 57/86 de 29 de Outubro.
This responsibility shall be discharged in close collaboration with the Veterinary Services (VS), Directorate of Livestock Development (DNDP), the National Directorate of Biosafety (DNSAB) in the Ministry of Agriculture and rural development (MADER), Professional veterinary associations, veterinary pharmacies, and livestock producer associations.

Technical Focus 

Implementation of the ” Supporting the Global Health Security Agenda to address zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and animal health in Mozambique” project (OSRO/GLO/1148/USA).

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Specialist on Veterinary Medicines Formulary will undertake the following tasks:

•    Identify and collect all relevant documents/reports/ directly or indirectly relevant for support the updating of the National Veterinary Drug Formulary. This includes national, regional and international documents aligned with international recommendations for National veterinary drug formulary;
•    Collate data on the causes of morbidity and mortality in Mozambique for the animals species relevant to the formulary.
•    Identify veterinary medicines indicated for the mortality and morbidity causes – consider any national standard treatment guidelines or
•    List of veterinary medicines of Mozambique or  an update a list of all medicines used in animal health for this purpose
•    Engage all the relevant sectors during the review and updating of the National Veterinary Drug Formulary (Formulário Nacional de Medicamentos para Veterinária. Diploma Ministerial Nº 57/86 de 29 de Outubro); including all veterinary medicines sales outlets.
•    Review and update the national drug formulary along the following specific thematic/topics areas:
o    Current situational analysis and gaps
o    Recommended global, and national guidelines on prescribing, dispensing & counselling and administration, AMU, residues, withdrawal times & MRLs and AMR and include/complement in the formulary
o    Pharmacotherapeutic category information (from reliable, updated, validated sources) on the veterinary medicines for the different species on the folspeicfically on
o    Generic or International Non-proprietary Name (INN)
o    Pharmaco-therapeutic category
o    Therapeutic indications;
o    Side effects;
o    Adverse effects/warnings:
o    Precautions/contraindications
o    Drug-drug, drug-herb, drug-disease interactions
o    Dosage form & route of administration;
o    Dose & dosing information
o    Residues, withdrawal times & MRLs of vet medicines
o    Prescriber indication (lever or category of the professional authorized to prescribe), Pantry procedures
o    Others notes considered important

•    Participate in meetings and interviews with relevant national stakeholders engaged in AMR and AMU (Antimicrobial Use) related relevant public and private sectors (animal, human and environmental health), to have their feedback on the draft National Veterinary Drug Formulary;
•    Based on the feedback collected from the different stakeholders involved, use the summary to update a draft National Veterinary Drug Formulary;
•    Participate in a pre-validation technical review meeting and validation meeting with the technical working group (if any) established to review the formulary project team, and other national stakeholders and incorporate feedback;
•    Prepare the final version of the National Veterinary Drug Formulary and submit for approval;
•    Undertake any other assignments as may be requested by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacy, or a related field.
•    A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Veterinary medicines/pharmacology.
•    Working knowledge of English and fluent in Portuguese.
•    National of Mozambique or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extensive knowledge of, and previous participation in development of the National Veterinary Drug Formulary related to public or animal health programmes at national level is desirable.
•    Professional experience in veterinary pharmacology, including in development of medicines formulary.
•    Experience in development of regulatory documents relating to medicines in a Southern Africa context.
•    Experience with the veterinary medicines supply chain in Mozambique.
•    Demonstrated evidence of knowledge of the medicine’s regulatory environment and legislations/policies/guidelines and strategies in the country.
•    Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and good interpersonal skills.
•    Good computer skills as well as ability to use data analytical tools.