FAO recruits 01 National Epidemiologist

Job Description: 2001230

National Epidemiologist

Closure Date: 12/Jun/2020, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: FRUGA

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Uganda-Kampala

Duration: 6 months

Post Number: N/A

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

Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

 Organizational Setting

 Within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease Operations (ECTAD), under the overall supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (AGAH)/, the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda, and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader in Uganda, and in collaboration with the ECTAD regional team for East Africa and the ECTAD Uganda team, the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Reporting Lines

 The consultant will be under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda, the technical supervision of the Chief, AGAH, and FAO headquarters, within the framework of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) and immediate supervision of the Country Team Leader, Sam Okuthe; ECTAD Country Team Leader.

Technical Focus

 Contribute to the development/review  of country strategies/emergency preparedness and response plans and/or programme for the management of high impact priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs), as well as emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases in line with the national  priorities and FAO’s Strategic Objectives

Tasks and responsibilities

 Within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease Operations (ECTAD), under the overall supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (AGAH)/, the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda, and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader in Uganda, and in collaboration with the ECTAD regional team for Eastern Africa and the ECTAD Uganda team, the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Design and coordinate implementation of surveillance activities relevant to PZDs as well as emerging and re-emerging priority zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases at the livestock-wildlife-human interface to mitigate the high (current/potential) impact of diseases in Uganda. These  include:

Participate in weekly regional ECTAD epi-lab coordinating calls

Coordinate appropriate stakeholder workshops to improve surveillance in the country targeting innovative approaches addressing national and regional priority diseases

Assist in the implementation of the recommendations of the SET mission and JRA workshop

Organize the implementation of surveillance protocols (epidemiological sampling) from livestock in targeted livestock farming systems, value chains and at domestic animals-wildlife interfaces

Plan, organize and implement capacity development of in-service professionals through the use of field epidemiology training and participatory epidemiology approaches targeting veterinarians, animal health technicians, community animal health workers, farmers, and where appropriate, public health or other stakeholders/partners

Conduct risk assessments at the human/livestock/wildlife interface and supervise in-country expert missions on epidemio-surveillance to ensure that high quality samples are collected.

Facilitate implementation of epidemiological activities in the GHSA project and other related ECTAD, animal health and livestock projects in the country

Support implementation AMR/AMU activities including surveillance

Organize stakeholders meetings and lead the process for the development of animal health and related policy instruments in Uganda

In close consultation with relevant sectors and stakeholders, support the operationalization of the national OH platform for a functional inter-sectoral One Health collaboration

In close consultation with relevant sectors and stakeholders, initiate the adoption and roll-out of In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) programme as an entry point to strengthen the animal health workforce at the sub-national levels

Facilitate closer  linkages of the ECTAD  programme with Ministries responsible for Animal, public and environmental health and other relevant Ministries and technical partners

Provide regular updates of zoonotics and TADs epidemiology situation in the country, bi-weekly project activity updates, and prepare draft web articles on technical accomplishments as needed

Provide support to the national epidemiology and laboratory network including timely and effective implementation of the recommendations of the EA RAHN meetings at country level

Organize or participate in animal health emergency preparedness and contingency planning exercises, or table top scenarios

Coordinate organization of planned training workshops, simulation exercises and technical meetings.

Contribute to epidemiological intelligence at National and Regional levels through immediate notification to GLEWS and the Country Team Leader, of any significant epidemiological events

Prepare regular reports on the progress of the implementation of projects implemented by the ECTAD Uganda, for FAO, donors or other stakeholders

Provide inputs to project concept notes, project proposals in support to resources mobilization

Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to the ECTAD Uganda Team Leader and the FAOR

Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

 Seven years of relevant experience in animal health activities

Working knowledge of English and technical report writing skills

Advanced University Degree in Veterinary Medicine and post-graduate and fellowship studies in field epidemiology or related fields

National of Uganda or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Systematic document review and analysis

Extensive knowledge on field epidemiology (surveys, tools and investigations) of zoonoses and transboundary animal diseases

Extensive knowledge of the main aspects of prevention and control of high impact emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic disease

Extensive experience in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of surveillance networks of animal diseases

Wide experience in conducting risk assessment and or analysis

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

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).

• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org 

• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.

• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/   

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

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