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Epidemiologist

Multiple locations

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Multiple locations
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Medical Practitioners
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
    • EMERGENCY AND RESILIENCE DIVISION, PSE PROGRAMME SUPPORT DEPARTMENT, PS
  • Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on your personal device date and time settings

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations

depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting
The tasks envisaged for this consultancy are to be carried out through the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), which is currently implementing a number of projects in various countries in Africa. Within the ECTAD framework, the Animal Production and Health Division (AGA) is closely working with the Emergency and Resilience Division (PSE) under the Strategic Program 5 to support various aspects of the animal health programme of FAO, including the Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT-2) and Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Programmes.
Reporting Lines
Depending on the duty station, the Epidemiologist reports to the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO/Chief, Animal Health Services), and works under the functional and administrative supervision of the Assistant Director General/Regional Representative or FAO Country Representative, and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader or Regional Manager or Global Coordinator, and in collaboration with the Head of the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES-AH), the Head of the Global Early Warning System for Livestock Diseases (GLEWS) Unit of the Animal Health Service (AGAH) and the animal production and health officers from the Regional and sub-Regional Offices and Country Offices.
Technical Focus
Technical backstopping support and guidance for risk assessments including systems characterisation and value chains mapping and analyses, planning and evaluation of epidemiological surveillance, contingency planning and simulation exercises and various epidemiology capacity development activities in target countries.
Tasks and responsibilities
  • Lead the development and implementation of work plans relevant to the GHSA ‘Zoonotic Diseases’ and ‘Workforce Development’ Action Packages.
  • Support assessment of the status of epidemiological surveillance capacities in target country(ies) and develop, update and harmonize regional/national strategies and plans, and provide technical support for their implementation, where required;
  • Provide guidance and technical support for the design and implementation of risk assessment in the context of farming systems, risk modeling, value chain studies, disease ecology and the livestock-wildlife-human interface, simulation exercises and other related activities;
  • Support early warning activities and conduct environmental monitoring for risk assessment;
  • Support spatial disease and risk factors analysis for spill-over, spread and persistence of priority zoonotic diseases including GIS training in countries;
  • Provide guidance and support to target countries on the use of mobile based applications for surveillance data collection, analyses and sharing of results;
  • In close collaboration with GLEWS and EMPRES technical teams at FAO HQ, support the evaluation of tools related to surveillance such as GLEWS/Event Mobile Application (EMA-I), EpiCollect data collection and storage technology, FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET), etc., in the field.
  • In close collaboration with Crisis Management Centre - Animal Health (CMC-AH) and ECTAD regional and country teams, coordinate and participate in emergency preparedness and rapid response planning and missions;
  • Lead and organize various activities in line with the GHSA “Work Force Development” Action Package\:
  • Support and coordinate regional Field Epidemiology Training Programme for Veterinarians (FETP-V) development, Participatory Disease Surveillance (PDS)/Personal Data Assistant (PDA), Participatory Epidemiology (PE), Community Animal Health & Outreach (CAHO), etc., training programs in close collaboration with other FETP-V activities implemented by EMPRES and GLEWS Units.
  • Provide technical support for the development and review of curricula for epidemiology capacity building at various levels of workforce.
  • Contribute to the One Health multi-sectoral coordination and partnerships
  • Participate, when required, in the World health Organization (WHO) Joint External Evaluation (JEE), World Organization for Animal Health Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services (OIE PVS), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention One Health disease prioritization missions/process evaluations at various levels (global, regional and national) in order to ensure the needs of the animal health sector are effectively reflected in the context of the One Health Approach;
  • Serve as liaison officer with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on matters relevant to surveillance capacity building, regional animal health networking, and animal welfare.
  • Enhance One Health multi-sectoral collaboration including with public health, wildlife, environment, education, etc., sectors with respect to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance/use (AMR/U) using available/new tools and information technologies/guidelines.
  • Prepare regular epidemiological updates and timely situation reports on major diseases in target countries and sub-regions in Africa or Asia;
  • Perform other key activities in the region and in country ECTAD Units
  • Attend regular coordination teleconferences or meetings to share activity reports, including challenges, and discuss solutions found and lessons learned with other project countries, regional and HQ teams;
  • Contribute to the ECTAD resource mobilization efforts through the development of project concept notes and fundable project proposals;
  • Contribute to the preparation of regular progress reports on projects implemented by the ECTAD Units;
  • Contribute to EMPRES and GLEWS publications (risk assessment, disease updates, guidelines) when pertinent;
  • Support the collection, storage, analysis and publication of data generated from field surveillance activities;
  • Contribute to the preparation of project reports as required by the Governments, FAO and donors;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
  • Advanced university degree (for Consultants)/ University degree (for PSA) in veterinary or biological sciences and relevant post-graduate training or experience in epidemiology or disease ecology or related fields;
  • At least 5 years of proven experience in the management and implementation of infectious disease control programmes, preferably in developing countries;
  • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for Consultants)/ working knowledge of English, French or Spanish (for PSA).
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, particularly in field positions is desirable.
  • Extent and relevance of experience at international level.
  • Ability to write briefs and reports
  • Ability to work under pressure and meat deadlines
Familiarity with FAO policies and programmes and systems is desirable
Selection Criteria
Based on requirements, competencies and skills.
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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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This vacancy is now closed.
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