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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 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is committed to supporting Member Countries and Partners in preparing for and responding to disasters and crises that threaten agriculture, food and nutrition security or food safety. FAO’s work in emergencies focuses on reducing people’s vulnerability to these hazards, including animal diseases, before, during and after disasters through good emergency management practices, including risk assessment, risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response, and rehabilitation.

The Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH), established in 2006 is FAO’s rapid response mechanism to animal disease emergencies. Within FAO Headquarters, the Emergency Management for Animal Health operates as a joint platform between two FAO divisions: Animal Production and Health (NSA) and Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER). The NSA supports countries to strengthen the contribution of the livestock sector toward the reduction of hunger and poverty. OER leads FAO’s humanitarian efforts in supporting countries to more effectively prepare for and respond to food and agricultural threats and crises and to strengthen the resilience of agricultural livelihoods, Strategic Program 5 in support to various aspects of the animal health programmes of FAO.

The tasks envisaged are to be carried out within the Emergency Management Centre-Animal Health (EMC-AH). The EMC-AH is expanding its platform to assist Member Countries beyond the deployment of emergency response missions and embrace fully all stages of emergency management.

Reporting Lines

The l Incident Coordination Specialist based in HQ, reports to the EMC-AH Manager and works in close collaboration and liaison with the Animal Production and Health and Emergencies and Resilience staff as well as other FAO technical departments and International Organizations. In case the Specialist is based in a field location it reports to the FAO representative in country the xxx in the region, under the technical and administrative guidance of the relevant Division and staff in HQ.

Technical Focus

Infectious disease (some of zoonotic importance) emergency management and incident coordination.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Coordinate emergency animal health and zoonotic disease events.
• Finalize a coordination mechanism strategy applicable at the regional and global level, ensure the validation and buy-in from key and supporting partners.
• Ensure the defined incident coordination group (ICG) is staffed with knowledgeable, qualified personnel.
• Customize and lead the rollout and testing (Global and regional) of the web-based emergency management platform, and provides support/train to key partners involved to coordinate animal health events.
• Lead updates on the emergency management platform.
• Develop operations procedures on the use of the emergency management platform
• Prepare and maintain an up-to-date strategy for Animal Health Emergencies of International Concern (AH-EIC).
• Develop relevant standard operating procedures and operations plans.
• Monitor the effectiveness of incident coordination and makes recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure the Animal Health – Emergency Operations Centre (AH-EOC) is equipped and functional for EMC-AH activities.
• Maintain coordination and collaboration with other strategic AH-EOCs, the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Health Operations Center, other strategic EOCs and partners, including the private sector and the Global Security Clusters (among others).
• Attend meetings, conferences, workshops related to emergency management to share information and lessons learned, and network with other emergency management specialists.
• Undertake travel and field missions as needed.
• Perform other related duties, as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in veterinary medicine. A certificate in emergency management, public health, veterinary epidemiology or related fields is an asset.
• Five to seven years of relevant experience in animal health programmes, infectious disease management or conservation including regulatory aspects, standards setting, and managerial and operational aspects
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

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.
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams.
• Extent of knowledge of international humanitarian architecture, including agencies, NGOs, and other partners.
• Extent and relevance of experience in international animal health (regulatory and developmental) programmes.
• Extent and relevance of experience in prevention and control of animal diseases.
• Extent of knowledge in software strategic design, implementation, training and testing.
• Extent and relevance of experience in animal health projects and programmes management.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Effective team leadership and decision making skills with strong individual planning capacity.
• Experience in IT solutions/new technologies used in Animal health programmes
• Experience in software strategic design, management, implementation, and testing is an asset.
• Experience in design and implementation of technical training in various cultures (Asia, Africa, S. America) is preferable.
• Experience in other global coordination mechanisms and regulations (WHO, IAEA, UNOCHA, OIE) is an asset.

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