National Curriculum Development Specialist for Veterinary Paraprofessional

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are 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 develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Background

FAO-ECTAD together with Ministry of Agriculture has recently developed a veterinary workforce development strategy for Liberia. One of the interventions proposed in the strategy is to establish a veterinary paraprofessional training facility under University of Liberia. Accordingly, discussions to establish a department dedicated for providing diploma level veterinary training within college of agriculture is underway. In the meantime, FAO–ECTAD is considering hiring a National Consultant who will be responsible for developing a two-year veterinary paraprofessional training curriculum suited to the Liberian context.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of FAO Representative in Liberia, the technical guidance of the ECTAD Team Lead and the FAO Regional Epidemiology Training Coordinator for West and Central Africa, and in close collaboration with the Dean, College of Agriculture, University of Liberia. The incumbent will deliver the tasks listed below.

Technical Focus

In this training program, the Veterinary Paraprofessionals are required to perform the following tasks:

• Routine veterinary extension services, including awareness creation and diseases investigations
• Basic Veterinary clinical services (e.g. basic treatments, vaccinations) including reproduction related activities),
• Regulatory services (e.g. surveillance, data collection, reporting),
• Basic public health (e. g meat inspection, food safety, bio-risk management, disease control)
• Basic laboratory diagnosis (e.g sampling and testing)
• Basic competency and experience with OH
• Basic competency in communication

Tasks and Responsibilities

Based on the OIE guideline for VPP initial training:

• Assess the knowledge and skill needs required of the trainees,
• Identify the core and major courses to be offered and determine their sequences,
• Provide names to the courses according the Liberia University course naming system
• Provide course descriptions, learning objectives and outcomes for each course,
• Determine the credit hours and specify the time allocated for theoretical and practical sessions,
• Identify teaching aids and infrastructure required
• Evaluation method to be employed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) and related areas in Animal Health
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in higher learning institution
• Experience in curriculum development.
• Experience in working in the livestock sector in the ECOWAS region, working in Liberia is an added advantage
• Working knowledge of English
• Eligible candidates include : Liberian Nationals and non-Liberian Nationals with resident and work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge in curriculum development.
• Working experience in animal health
• Excellent community entry and engagement skills;
• Excellent analytical and critical writing skills;
• Experience working in post-conflict setting;
• Ability to work in a team and good interpersonal skills;
• Good computer applications skills;
• Good planning and organizational skills;
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy;
• Sense of initiative and anticipation;
• Capacity to work in diverse environments and ensure work life balance.
• Experience with FAO or other UN agencies’ systems and administration procedures for technical cooperation activities is desirable.

Selection Criteria

• Familiarity with the livestock sector in the ECOWAS region

• Independent worker and excellent skills working as part of a team;
• Excellent reading, writing and communication skills in English
• Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR’s Requirements
• Experience with UN, and other International Organizations would be an asset