ECTAD Country Team Leader

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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 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 Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) is responsible for ensuring FAO’s efforts to support countries and partners in preparing for and effectively responding to food and agricultural threats and crises. It is responsible for coordinating the development and maintenance of corporate tools and standards to enable Decentralized Offices to assist member countries to prepare for, and respond to emergencies. OER ensures humanitarian policy coordination and knowledge, liaison with the InterAgency Standing Committee (IASC) as well as with humanitarian resource partners, co-leadership with World Food Programme (WFP) of the global Food Security Cluster (FSC), organizational preparedness, surge capacity and response to large-scale emergencies. OER supports food and nutrition security assessment and early warning activities related to emergency and humanitarian analysis and responses. OER plays a major role in the development and leadership of the Organization’s programme to increase the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

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 and regions. Within the ECTAD framework and the Animal Health Service (NSAH), the consultant will closely work with the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) to support various aspects of the FAO animal health and One Health programme, including the Global Health Security (GHS) Programme, in line with the One Health programme priority area of FAO.

Reporting Lines

The ECTAD Country Team Leader works under the policy and technical guidance of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator (NSAH), in line with programme management guidance from the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Operations Coordinator (OER), the functional guidance of the Regional Representative of FAO on managerial/administrative issues and regional priorities, the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Country Representative, the technical backstopping and supervision of the ECTAD Regional Manager and in collaboration with the relevant Animal Production and Health officers and One Health officers in sub-regional, regional and Head Quarters’ levels.

Technical Focus

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

Tasks and responsibilities

• Liaise with the national Government, development partners, multi-lateral agencies and national and international nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector in all matters related to high-impact emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic disease (rEIDs) prevention and control programmes, under the guidance and with support of the FAOR;
• Advise the FAOR and beneficiary government on technical and policy matters related to high impact transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses in close collaboration with the sub-regional Animal Production and Health Officer;
• Prepare appropriate country strategies and programmes for the management of TADs and rEIDs in close collaboration with the beneficiary government, and in line with the country priority framework (CPF), the UN sustainable development goal corporate framework (UNSDCF), the FAO’s Program priority areas (PPAs), and the UNDAP II framework;
• Contribute towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme and ensure smooth integration of ECTAD activities within the FAO’s broader country programme under the FAO Representation;
• Supervise and coordinate the preparation of project work plans, timely provision of inputs, implementation of planned activities, and liaison with responsible officers at national and sub-national levels for smooth coordination and delivery of FAO-implemented projects;
• Actively engage in resource mobilization efforts including preparation of concept notes and project proposals to expand animal health and livestock sector development related projects that are identified as priorities by the government, with the advice and support of the FAOR and leveraging existing funds;
• Maintain links with the established national networks on diagnosis and epidemiology to exchange and share technical information particularly related to priority and high impact zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases;
• Provide leadership, supervision and managerial support to the ECTAD country team members;
• Support One Health 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;
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and rapid response activities in the country in close collaboration with the Eergency Management Centre (EMC) and ECTAD regional and country teams;
• Provide technical support for the publication of inputs generated from ECTAD country and regional project activities;
• Provide regular updates of TADs epidemiology situation in the country; and provide immediate notification to GLEWS of any significant epidemiological events;
• Coordinate preparation of country reports and briefs as required by the government, FAO and donors and submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment;
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in veterinary science and relevant post-graduate qualification in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (both zoonotic and non-zoonotic), veterinary epidemiology, diagnostics or related fields;
• At least 5 years (Category B) and 12 years (Category A) of relevant experience in the management and implementation of infectious disease control programmes preferably in developing countries including leading and managing teams and partnerships;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (English, French or Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian). For PSA, working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish.

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 position is desirable;
• Extent and relevance of experience at international level;
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and projects at international level;
• Ability to write briefs and reports according to donors requirements;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Familiarity with the FAO policies, programmes and systems is desirable.

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