ECTAD Country Team Leader (Asia Region)

Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO Country Offices, headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO participates in the development and implementation of field projects in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development. This requires the integration within the broader framework of sustainable food and agriculture that aims at increasing production and productivity, addressing climate change, and managing natural resources; and enhance rural livelihoods.

The Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Country Teams are dedicated to working with the government in preventing and controlling emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases by working closely with national stakeholders in the animal production and health sector. 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 Asia.

Reporting Lines

The ECTAD Country Team Leader works under the overall supervision of the Chief, Animal Health Service (AGAH), and the direct supervision of the Regional Manager of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD) in FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, with the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative and Project Budget Holder in the country, and in collaboration with the government competent authorities of the respective country.

Technical Focus

Management of the ECTAD country team, technical and management leadership and guidance, and advisory services to the FAOR on animal health issues.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Under the guidance and with support of the FAOR, liaise with the national Government, development partners, multi-lateral agencies and national and international non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in all matters related to the prevention and control of high impact transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and emerging and re-emerging diseases (EIDs) including zoonoses;
• In close collaboration with the ECTAD Regional Manager, advise the FAOR and beneficiary government on technical and policy matters related to high impact TADs and EIDs;
• Develop appropriate country strategies and programmes for the control of TADs and EIDs in close collaboration with the beneficiary government, and in line with the country priority framework (CPF), the FAO’s Strategic Programs (SPs), and the UNDAP II framework;
• Ensure smooth integration of ECTAD activities within the FAO’s broader country programme under the FAO Representation; and contribute towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme;
• Supervise the preparation of project work plans, timely provision of inputs, organization of workshops, training programmes, and liaison with responsible officers at national and sub-national levels for smooth coordination and delivery of ECTAD-implemented projects;
• With the advice and support of the FAOR, and leveraging existing funds, actively engage in resource mobilization efforts including preparation of concept notes and project proposals to expand animal health related projects that are identified as priorities by the government;
• Maintain links with the established national networks on diagnosis and epidemiology to exchange and share technical information particularly related to priority and high impact TADs and EIDs;
• Coordinate preparation of timely reports of the ECTAD-coordinated country reports as required by the government, FAO and donors;
• Provide leadership, and coordination and day-to-day supervision to the ECTAD country team members with the overall supervision assigned to an FAO staff member;
• Supervise and coordinate the implementation of various capacity development activities;
• Support one health (OH) capacity and platforms through enhancing collaboration and coordination with the public health, wildlife, environment, education, and other relevant sectors with respect to zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance/use (AMR/U) using existing and new tools and guidelines;
• Conduct regular field missions in the country to monitor and ensure smooth implementation of project activities;
• In close collaboration with CMC-Animal Health and ECTAD regional and country teams, coordinate emergency preparedness and rapid response activities in the country;
• Provide technical support for the publication of data generated from ECTAD country and regional project activities;
• Prepare and review briefs upon request from FAOR, ECTAD RAP and AGAH.
• Provide regular updates on TADs and EIDs situation in the country; and provide immediate notification to GLEWS of any significant epidemiological events.
• Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to the FAOR and ECTAD Regional Manager

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• University degree in veterinary science/medicine and post-graduate degree in a related field from a recognized university;
• At least 12 years of proven experience in the management and implementation of infectious disease control programmes;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in a field position is desirable
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning, coordination and organization of national or regional animal disease control programme with strategic relevance to the ECTAD programme;
• Work experience in the Asian region and/or with regional institutions like ASEAN, SAARC and other relevant bodies
• Extent and relevance of experience in liaison with partners and institutional contexts;
• Extent and relevance of experience at international level

Based on requirements, competencies and skills.