National Project Coordinator

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For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The National Project Coordinator will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in the Philippines, guidance of the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme and the technical supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Service (AGAH) and the Lead Technical Officer in HQ, in close coordination with the FAO RAP AMR Focal Point (Senior Animal Production and Health Office), the ECTAD Regional Manager and the direct supervision of the FAO RAP Regional Project Coordinator, and operational supervision of the budget holder in FAO HQ.

The work of FAO in the Philippines is guided by its Country Programming Framework (CPF). This supports the government in addressing challenges in improving food security and nutrition, enhancing agricultural production and productivity, sustainable management of natural resources and improving agricultural adaptation from Climate Change and Disaster Risks.

The project will support the engagement of the food and agriculture sector in selected countries in the development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), with a focus on several of the key factors identified above namely regulatory platforms, legislation, capacity to collect data on antimicrobial use (AMU), AMR, and antimicrobial residues and improving practices to minimize the need for and use of antimicrobials and transmission of AMR along the food chain.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator shall perform the following responsibilities\:

• Oversee the implementation of the work plan under the Philippine component of the GCP/GLO/710/UK Engaging the food and agriculture sectors in sub-Saharan Africa and South and South-east Asia in the global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance using a One Health approach by ensuring that all activities under the four outputs are implemented, addressing the following specific tasks\:

• Work closely with the AMR group (Animal Health and Welfare Division, Veterinary Laboratory Division, Feeds Standards Division, etc) in the Bureau of Animal Industry as well as other national authorities responsible for the control of AMR within the Department of Agriculture

• Work closely with the Philippines Inter-Agency Committee on AMR (ICAMR) and network with all the national agencies working on AMR/AMU and ensuring that activities proposed by the ICAMR are aligned with the project and the Global Action Plan on AMR

• Liaise with WHO, OIE, ASEAN and FAO AMR Reference Centres to keep abreast with developments on respective AMU/AMR activities, identify and follow up on any opportunities for collaboration

• Work with the coordinating mechanism among and between the different regional field units and local government units, the central laboratory, private sector partners to work towards the smooth implementation of AMU and AMR activities to sustain AMR as a viable agenda;

• Monitor and report on the output of the AMR surveillance program for the Philippines particularly working with BAI and NMIS as lead agencies for AMR surveillance;

• Monitor and ensure that advocacy activities on AMR is mainstreamed into the regular work program of concerned government agencies;

• Work with relevant institution, like the academe, and work in identifying research agenda relevant to AMR and AMU

• Coordinate AMR/AMU activities with other AMR project activities in the country;

• Participate in the teleconferences conducted by FAO RAP

• Work with the government counterpart on other concerns such as control and prevention of emerging infectious diseases and transboundary animal diseases, addressing the following tasks\:

• Assist the government in developing possible work plans for support by FAO or other partners

• Assist the government in conducting stakeholder consultations and other relevant engagements such as trainings

• Recommend control measures as well as farm biosecurity measures to contain the spread of EIDs, TADs

• Advice the government in the control efforts of EIDs and TADs such as need for vaccination, quarantine, stamping out.

• Inform ECTAD RAP of any developments EID/TADs occurrence.

• Monitor progress against this work plan by tracking activities and targets with periodical review and revision;

• Participate in and provide inputs to periodic FAO project planning activities;

• In close liaison with FAO country office, ensure that expenses project expenses are regularly updated and reflected in FAO accounting system. Produce on a regular basis narrative progress report as well as financial delivery estimates, with forecast expenses as well as activities milestones.

• Submit an End of Assignment report

• Carry out other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as requested by FAO Representative.

• Graduate of veterinary medicine with relevant Masters Degree on the field of veterinary science; training in epidemiology, microbiology of zoonotic food-borne diseases and knowledge in veterinary public health would bean advantage

• Experience in managing projects and knowledgeable on the Philippine livestock industry, its stakeholders including partners and how these relate to the current national bureaucracy

• Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required

• A national of Philippines