Overview
The Animal Health Officer will support the risk information sharing and early reaction to emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases, liaising with regional and country offices. S/he will provide improving global risk monitoring and early warning through the integration and analysis of surveillance and diagnostic data.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the risk information sharing and early reaction to emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal and zoonotic diseases.
- Improve global risk monitoring and early warning through the integration and analysis of surveillance and diagnostic data.
- Generate and disseminate timely risk information to support preparedness and response by Members.
- Coordinate communication of disease risk information, through situation reports, updates, alerts and risk communication products.
- Assist Member countries' early reactions to emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases (TADs).
- Develop standard operating procedures for surge support to outbreaks.
- Provide Infectious Substances Shipping Trainings (ISST) to decentralized offices.
- Contribute to quality of procurement under FAO field projects.
- Coordinate the FAO - World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) - African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Consultative group for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia.
- Coordinate collaboration with the WHO Global Influenza Programme on zoonotic influenza risk assessment and response.
- Collaborate with other units of FAO, other international organizations, and regional organizations.
- Design and implement programmes and projects related to EMPRES-AH.
- Assist in work-planning, monitoring, and year-end reporting using FAO Programme Planning, Implementation Reporting and Evaluation Support System (PIRES).
Required Experience
- Seven years of relevant experience in active disease surveillance programmes for epidemic diseases of livestock and in epidemiological analysis of outbreaks of such diseases.
- Work experience in computer-based disease mapping and geographical information systems (GIS) or in decision support systems for the control of epidemic diseases is required.
- Extent and relevance of experience in surveillance, prevention and control of animal diseases, in particular transboundary animal disease eradication/control programmes.
- Extent and relevance of experience co-ordinating joint activities with other international organisations (such as WOAH, WHO).
- Extent and relevance of experience on UN Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and other regulatory frameworks.
- Experience in FAO Programme Planning, Implementation Reporting and Evaluation methodologies.
- Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries and countries in transition.
- Ability to communicate clearly to different audiences and partners on emerging disease situations.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in veterinary science/medicine, epidemiology or related subject.
- A postgraduate qualification is considered an asset.
