EuFMD – Emergency preparedness for foot-and-mouth disease and similar TADs specialists (various profiles)

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• 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

Organizational Setting

The European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (EuFMD) plays a significant role in the animal health part of FAO’s programme to increase resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises (SO5). EuFMD has established a globally respected capacity for efficient delivery of training, in-country and online support to emergency preparedness, and Progressive Control Programmes is working in over 80 countries with and through the decentralised offices. Most recently, the HOLD-FAST strategy continues the focus upon Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) risk reduction but extends the scope of the preparedness and risk reduction activities to similar Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) which pose an immediate threat to the Member Nations (hereafter FAST is used for Foot-and-mouth and similar transboundary animal diseases).

The EuFMD is an Article XIV body responsible to its Member States and donors to deliver an extensive work programme on FMD emergency preparedness, response and control, to its 39 Member Nations, to a further 20 European neighbourhood countries, and to other regions through its arrangement with FAO decentralized offices. It manages the largest capacity-building programme in animal health in FAO with over 10,000 trainees recently taking its training courses. Technical input as well as operational delivery are entirely managed by the Commission Secretariat. Full details are available in the EuFMD work programme.

A consultant/PSA is engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which would be short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions.

The purpose of this Call is to identify suitably qualified and experienced consultants and/or PSA subscribers to populate a roster for the following profiles:

• Project Coordinator (Pillar I workprogramme – improved readiness of Member Nations to FAST diseases)
• FAST Preparedness Planning expert
• FAST disease quantitative modelling expert
• Risk assessment and risk management specialist
• Expert in vaccines licensing and market authorization

Candidates may be involved in more than one orientation and may be invited to undertake short-term assignments ranging in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

Reporting Lines

The consultant/PSA, in close collaboration with the Programme Implementation manager, reports directly to the EuFMD Deputy Executive Secretary and Pillar Managers for functional and policy guidance.

Technical Focus

Support to delivery of donor-funded work programmes of the EuFMD Commission at global, regional, sub-regional and country level, with specific focus on emergency preparedness in Pillar I of EuFMD workplan and connected activities in Pillar II and III.

The EuFMD workplan develops in three Pillars:

Pillar I – Improving preparedness for management of FMD and similar TADs (‘FAST disease’) crises by Members and across Europe as a whole;

Pillar II – Reduced risk to Members from the FAST disease (FMD and similar TADs) situation in the European neighbourhood;

Pillar III – Sustaining and enhancing progress in the roll out of the GF-TADs Global Strategy for control of FMD, and on increasing security in the supply of effective FMD vaccines.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant/PSA will provide support to the implementation of the EuFMD work programme at global, regional, sub-regional and country level. This includes, but it is not limited to, the surge of support required for managing the changing priorities following disease emergencies and changes in programme decided by the Executive Committee and the major donors.

Following are the generic functions for which candidates are sought. Specific tasks and responsibilities will be defined in Terms of Reference prepared for different assignments, according to:

• • the profile orientation required and
  • the selected candidates’ experience, qualifications and expertise.

• Manage and co-ordinate the Pillar I workplan development, giving guidance to the Secretariat and Executive Committee, and daily guidance to managers of the Pillar I components, and management board;
• Support the Pillar I workprogramme by managing or assisting the implementation of component work plans, including, undertaking missions to advise on FAST diseases’ risk assessment and management, the development and delivery of workshops and training courses under the components, ensuring activities and inputs are provided on time and supervising the work of other national and international consultants;
• Provide expert guidance to the Secretariat and, where required, the EuFMD member nations, relating to prevention, emergency preparedness and response to FAST threats;
• Provide expert direction to the capacity building programme for Member countries aimed at improving skills to better respond to animal health crises. Support consultation processes in order to assess specific training needs, priorities and gaps relevant to the control of transboundary animal and FAST diseases and support the development and delivery of trainings as expert trainer;
• Provide subject matter expertise in the development or adaptation of e-learning courses and co-ordinate with international experts to ensure they provide relevant input to development and delivery of e-learning courses;
• Assist the development of a pre-qualification system for FAST vaccines to improve availability of quality vaccines and confirm compliance with the minimum internationally accepted standards;
• Lead the development of the network for Member Nations on FAST emergency management, preparedness for emergency vaccination, vaccines and diagnostic bank issues;
• Support the development of risk monitoring tools to assist Member Nations and neighbouring countries to regularly assess risk of FAST introduction and spread;
• Support the implementation of the work programme by developing and improving modelling tools that can assist the Secretariat and the EuFMD member nations to improve their contingency plans and their level of preparedness against FAST diseases;
• Participate in and provide technical support, as facilitator and/or evaluator, to organize national and multi-country simulation exercises in liaison with the involved countries and working in close cooperation to develop the scenarios, injects, presentations and any other required supporting training materials and job aids.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Depending on the Profile and orientation:

• For Consultants:
  • University degree in a discipline relevant to the duties listed, including technical field disciplines;
  • At least five years of relevant work experience in:
    • emergency and response preparedness against FAST diseases (Laboratory Epidemio-Surveillance, FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases Emergency Preparedness);
    • risk assessment, surveillance and/or management;
    • resources and project management;
    • mathematical modelling of biological processes, application of computer sciences to modelling or in a discipline relevant to disease spread modelling (for FAST disease quantitative modelling expert);
    • veterinary vaccine registration, monitoring, quality control and use in variety of settings;
  • Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of FAO’s Official languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

• For PSAs:
  • University degree, technical specialization or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or otherwise related to FAO’s Programme of Work, including technical field disciplines;
  • At least one year of relevant work experience in one or more of the following sectors:
    • emergency and response preparedness against FAST diseases (Laboratory Epidemio-Surveillance, FMD and similar Transboundary Animal Diseases Emergency Preparedness);
    • risk assessment, surveillance and/or management;
    • mathematical modelling of biological processes, application of computer sciences to modelling or in a discipline relevant to disease spread modelling (for FAST disease quantitative modelling expert);
    • resources and project management;
    • vaccine registration, monitoring, quality control and use in variety of settings;
  • Working knowledge (Level C) of English is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Experience in FAST emergency preparedness and management;
• Knowledge of the animal health regulation framework for disease awareness and preparedness in EuFMD Member countries will be considered an asset;
• Post-graduate qualification in a discipline relevant to the management of FAST diseases, and/or experience in working in the official veterinary services is preferable;
• Post-graduate qualification in computer science or in a discipline relevant to disease spread modelling tools (for Specialist in modelling);
• Experience developing and delivering online or face-to-face training and a high level of technical knowledge of “FMD and other similar transboundary diseases (FAST)” and of relevant management and control plans will be considered as an asset;
• For specific functions: experience in veterinary vaccine registration, monitoring and quality control and in the use of veterinary vaccines in emergency settings;
• For Senior positions: managerial skills and at least twelve years of relevant experience is required;
• Knowledge of more FAO’s Official languages or working knowledge of the national language if focusing on a specific national or regional activity in Pillar I countries will be considered an asset;
• Familiarity with liaising with FAO central and decentralized offices as well as the knowledge of protocol procedures will be considered an asset;
• Strong communication skills in English.

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