National Specialist on Veterinary Epidemiology

The 2016-2020 Strategy for development of agriculture and agricultural products processing sector in Azerbaijan foresees strengthening food security in a sustainable manner. Reaching this objective also requires the capacity to monitor the health of animals. Animal health improvement requires increasing the authority’s capacity to early detect and rapidly respond to disease outbreaks, particularly the ones with transboundary nature. This can be done in both passive and active way in order to be efficient. An efficient animal diseases surveillance, which is needed for an effective disease prevention and control, is therefore the combination of the State capacity to conduct it on the field and in the laboratory. Currently, both systems are inadequate to allow appropriate disease control, which has a direct impact on the livestock sector development.

To improve this capacity, specific related activities need to be conducted aiming at understanding the baseline of this capacity and suggesting improvement while using a roadmap approach for both the field and the laboratory systems. FAO’s tools on laboratory and surveillance capacity assessment (LMT and SET, respectively) will allow the authorities to have a clear pathway toward improving these capacities and hence directly impact on the livestock health status. Further, training on sampling collection, shipment and processing for diagnostics is needed as well to ensure the sustainability of the built capacity.

This project aims to utilize and build on the physical infrastructure to improve the country capacity to early detect, diagnose and response to important endemic and exotic transboundary animal diseases. It also aims to improve the diagnostic capacity of the newly established National Reference Centre and the six Regional Testing Laboratories, which are being reorganized to focus on diagnostic of animal diseases. Overall, the project will contribute to improving animal and public health, food safety and agricultural competitiveness.

Technical Focus

TCP/AZE/3706, Improvement of national capacity to conduct disease surveillance including veterinary diagnostics

Under the overall guidance of the FAO representative in Azerbaijan, technical supervision of LTO, the consultant will\:

• Support the implementation of the project in what is related to animal disease surveillance, including the surveillance and syndromic surveillance for PPR proof of freedom.
• In consultation with the LTO and FAO national staff address any problem that can delay or impede the project implementation.
• Liaise with relevant government officials and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the project implementation.
• Assist in organizing relevant meetings and workshops and attending and leading them when pertinent.
• Conducting with government officers disease prioritization exercise.
• Support the international consultant in conducting the Surveillance Evaluation Tool.
• Support training for public and private veterinarians conducted by international or FAO-HQ experts.
• Assist in the procurement and distribution of sampling and shipping materials for field veterinarians.
• Assist in the formulation of sampling and shipment SOPs.
• Assist in reviewing the current disease reporting system.
• Review and revise current available materials on disease surveillance including for veterinary students.
• Lead the effort to create new and/or translated material on disease surveillance including for veterinary students

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements\:

• University degree in veterinary epidemiology, public health, animal science and other related fields;
• At least 5 years experience in veterinary epidemiology or public health and animal science or other related areas;
• Excellent communication and report writing skills in English; knowledge of Russian and Turkish would be an asset;
• National of Azerbaijan

• Results Focus
• Teamwork, including leading, engaging and empowering others
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong training, research and analytical skills, practice in conducting Surveillance Evaluation Tool;
• Computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Ability to take initiative and accomplish tasks with minimum supervision;
• Ability to perform in a multi-cultural team.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.