Animal Health Officer (Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance and Public Health)

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• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
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• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes and facilitates the sustainable development of the livestock sector, integrating scientific and technical expertise and policy advice. It hosts technical networks in areas of animal health, genetics, feed and animal husbandry and provides analysis, policy dialogue (including intergovernmental bodies) and technical assistance. It also supports emergency responses, mostly in animal health.

FAO supports Members to build and implement effective collaborative One Health strategies and capacities, simultaneously addressing the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. One Health in agrifood systems transformation is a key Priority Programme Area, and part of FAO's Strategic Framework (2022-2031).

The One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH-CJW) under the Animal Production and Health Division leads and coordinates the prevention and control of endemic and emerging transboundary animal diseases and health threats that emerge at the animal-human-environment interface including zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)as well as One Health coordination and AMR Cluster, and coordinates and implements work across different FAO Divisions/Offices/Centres to mainstream One Health and AMR in FAO activities, integrating scientific and technical expertise and policy advice.

Externally, this cluster streamlines FAO collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as the Quadripartite to address health threats at the human-animal-plant-environment interface and to promote health and sustainable development.

One of FAO's current primary objectives on AMR is to consolidate the development and roll out of a global information system to support countries in collecting, analysing and utilizing their AMR data as well as for participating in global AMR surveillance efforts.

The International FAO AMR Monitoring System (InFARM) has launched the first open call for data in 2024. This initiative provides a framework for capacity building and harmonization of AMR surveillance, as well as a mechanism for the regular dissemination of epidemiological information on AMR trends and profiles in food and agriculture at the country, regional and global levels.

The post is located in the Animal Health and Production Division, One Health and Disease Control Group, One Health Coordination and AMR Cluster (NSAH-CJW), at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Animal Health Officer (AMR Surveillance and Public Health) reports to the Senior Animal Health Officer (Head of One Health Coordination and AMR Cluster), under the overall policy/technical guidance and operational supervision of the Chief, One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH/CJW), Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).

Technical Focus
AMR surveillance planning, management and coordination, capacity development support and advocacy.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with divisional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams, leads and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Oversees the overall delivery on strengthening surveillance and ensures its regular reporting to related projects and FAO Governing Bodies.
• Leads the technical development and global implementation of the International FAO AMR Monitoring System (InFARM) and its Information Technology (IT) platform, in alignment with international guidelines and standards.
• Coordinates the global maintenance and implementation of the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems (ATLASS) together with the Laboratory Unit in Animal Health and Production Division.
• Coordinates the technical development and implementation of IT solutions with the Digitalization and Informatics Division (CSI) for tool building capacities to respond to AMR including the ATLASS tool.
• Leads and supervises the InFARM team responsible for\: i) building and maintaining interoperability and integration of InFARM with additional AMR data management tools and services, ii) building country capacities on harmonized reporting of AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance and monitoring data in agrifood systems, and iii) preparing and implementing FAO projects on AMR and AMU surveillance and monitoring.
• Ensures the collaboration with other FAO units and Divisions/Offices/Centres and with FAO AMR References in relation to AMR surveillance activities under a One Health approach.
• Acts as focal point for Quadripartite collaboration on global AMR surveillance, including the provision of FAO technical support to Quadripartite technical groups and global data platforms.
• Supports cross cutting efforts for minimizing and containing AMR, including the support to the FAO initiative for reducing the need of antimicrobials in farms for sustainable agrifood systems transformation (RENOFARM).
• Formulates and implements projects, specifically in the areas of AMR surveillance, and in the establishment of digital platforms and services for evidence-based decision making.
• Drafts, reviews or coordinates the development of publications and other technical content related to AMR.
• Provides global technical coordination of projects and support to regional and country offices for the delivery of AMR surveillance activities.
• Contributes to FAO AMR inter-divisional coordination, including participation and facilitation of FAO AMR working group meetings.
• Conducts the planning and organization of, and participates in technical meetings, expert consultations and seminars or events related AMR and One Health.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in veterinary medicine and in veterinary epidemiology or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in infectious disease and/or AMR management, including surveillance and monitoring.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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 positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in prevention and control of animal diseases and threats, in particular AMR.
• Extent and relevance of experience in AMR epidemiological information systems and processes, in particular the InFARM system and IT platform.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in coordinating the technical development of IT solutions informing evidence-based decisions and interventions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the collection, harmonization, statistical analysis and dissemination of surveillance data on infectious diseases and/or AMR.
• Extent of knowledge and experience in visualization and analytical tools for surveillance of infectious diseases and/or AMR.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation, editing and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing meetings and workshops.
• Extent and relevance of experience in AMR or infectious diseases projects and programmes management.
• Demonstrated experience in project formulation and implementation with tangible results and products.
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes, including FAO governing bodies and intergovernmental processes.
• Ability to edit and write clearly and concisely technical content for publications.