National Consultant - Strengthening National strategy for laboratory inspection, licensing and accreditation

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• 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 Members 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 FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

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

Laboratory services play a major role in the detection, assessment, response, notification and monitoring of critical public health events globally, hence, the laboratory sector is one of the core capacities that countries must develop for the implementation of the International Health Regulations [IHR (2005)]. To help countries achieve the much needed reforms of their public health laboratory services, Member States and partners should focus on four areas:

• Development of national laboratory policies and strategic plans.
• Improvement of national training programmes and implementation of laboratory quality management
• Establishment of networks for emergency preparedness and response.
• Advocacy, partnership and leadership The Liberian Medical and Dental Council is currently the umbrella regulatory body for
Medical health facilities, including laboratories in Liberia.

Within this framework, the Liberia Board of Accreditation and Licensure of Medical Laboratory Technologists (BALMLT) is responsible for developing regulations, policies and plans to strengthen the National Laboratory Systems (NLS). It is mandated to serve as a licensing authority for laboratories and laboratory personnel in Liberia. However, the existing strategy within this system does not adequately cover the Veterinary laboratories and other One Health related laboratories. lt is against this backdrop that there is need for strengthening the National strategy for laboratory inspection, licensing and accreditation. This consultancy will focus on the national laboratory policies and strategic plans, specifically strengthening of the National strategy for laboratory inspection, licensing and accreditation. The strategy should specifically describe the components needed and best practices for inspection, licensing and accreditation of Animal Health and affiliated laboratories in order to help governments consider potential questions and address the challenges they might face when reviewing their legislation covering laboratories. The consultant will work closely with BALMLT as well as study and refer to existing documents, systems, instruments and structures such as the National Laboratory Policy 2019, Draft Public Health Law, the recently validated Liberia National Livestock Policy and Veterinary and Animal law, the WHO Joint External assessment (JEE) for Liberia, WHO guidelines on Licensing of Laboratories, relevant legislations among others.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia, technical guidance of the Laboratory officer at the FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAO RAF), with the direct supervision of ECTAD country team lead and in close collaboration with the ECTAD team, the Laboratory Technical Working Group (TWG), the Laboratory association and One Health Platform (OHP) of Liberia, the incumbent will undertake the following task:

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Map out all Laboratories in Liberia that are within the One Health platform or are of Public Health Importance
• Develop/update a One Heath National strategy for laboratory inspection, licensing and accreditation;
• Prepare for a 3-day national consultative workshop to validate the document.
• Conduct the stakeholder consultative workshop to (i) present and discuss the proposed strategy (ii) Validate the document;
• Propose a road map including; required modifications for existing structures for laboratory inspection, licensing and accreditation
in Liberia;
• Perform other related duties as required by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Must have at least a bachelor's degree in Public health or Laboratory science or related field , from an accredited college or university, a master’s degree or PhD in the same fields will be an added advantage ;
• Must have over 5 years of proven record of knowledge and experience in the One health platform or existing national;
Laboratory Systems and networks in Liberia;
• Must have a proven record of knowledge of the National laboratory regulatory framework of Liberia;
• Working knowledge of English;
• Must be a Liberian national or a resident with a valid work and resident permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extend of working experience in existing national Laboratory Systems and networks in Liberia
• Familiar with One health platform
• Excellent communication, networking, written and presentation skills.
• Familiar with United Nations System and/or FAO’s programming mechanisms.
• Experience in developing and delivering training curricula to extension services and farmers is an asset.

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