Individual Consultant for the development & release of a policy brief related to the application of GEDSI elements to AMR & Animal Health

Remote

Context

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH – founded as OIE) is a leading intergovernmental organisation representing 183 Members worldwide. Through its activities, WOAH makes a decisive contribution to improving animal health, protecting animal welfare and strengthening Veterinary Services. The Organisation provides transparent information on world’s animal health situation, and promotes international standards, particularly in terms of the safety of trade in live animals and animal products. More information can be found on WOAH’s website.

Joining WOAH means taking part in the development of one of the leading international organisations, recognised and associated with other multilateral institutions, in the field of worldwide health. It means helping to build a global approach to health, combining animal and human health in a “One Health” approach.

To support its work, WOAH may use individual consultants to provide ad hoc support for tasks that cannot be carried out by members of its staff. An individual consultant works in his own name, for the duration of his assignment at WOAH, to the exclusion of any other principal and without being attached to any employer.

WOAH’s headquarters are based in Paris. The Organisation is present on every continent through 13 Regional or Sub-regional Representations. WOAH has 250 staff members, two-thirds of whom are based at headquarters. This position is located in Paris or, alternatively, remotely, with up to four one-week visits to WOAH Headquarters during the contracting period.

Description of the individual consultant assignment

Positioning and reporting

Reporting to the Head of the Veterinary Products & Drug Resistance (VPDR) Department, and under technical supervision on GEDSI-related aspects provided by the Gender Technical Advisor.

Mission objectives

AMR threatens human, plant and animal health, jeopardising global health, economic stability, food security, and food safety. While it is essential to coordinate work across all sectors, using the One Health approach, it is not less important to consider equity concerns (GEDSI) in all work undertaken. Because when certain groups of people are excluded, or hampered in access to interventions and policies, we will miss parts of the global picture, leading to ineffectively implement solutions that reach everyone.

Evidence shows that social and economic inequalities affect all dimensions of AMR, from exposure and prevention to access to veterinary services, to knowledge of AMR antimicrobial stewardship, and to who is targeted and benefits from interventions. This is because social and economic inequities influence people’s access to and control over resources, the distribution of labour, social norms, people’s decision-making power in their communities and broader policies and institutions that shape rights and opportunities. These inequalities may intersect and affect individuals and groups differently according to gender, disability, age, socioeconomic status, geographic location and other context-specific factors.

Guidance on how to consider equity in any policy work around AMR is essential, and while growing over the last years, significant gaps remain across other One Health domains, such as animal health. This consultancy is specifically seeking to identify how gender inequalities, disability and other dimensions of social exclusion may affect AMR-related risks, practices, access to services, decision-making and policy outcomes in animal health, and translate these findings into actionable considerations for Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) and Animal Health Policy Makers (AHPM). For that purpose, the selected consultant will be assigned to develop and release a policy brief helping CVOs and AHPM to develop and release improved AMR policies by the integration of relevant GEDSI considerations.

Activities and deliverables

Stage 1 (October 2026 – March 2027)

– Critically review, select & translate elements from the WHO guidance on gender inequalities & AMR, assessing those relevant & applicable to animal health policies on AMR

– Build up from previous experiences like GEAR-UP and others, existing literature reviews, or other sources of reliable information to define relevant GEDSI considerations applicable to animal health policies on AMR

– Identify critical areas for relevant GEDSI considerations to be applicable to animal health policies on AMR through a survey and key informant interviews

– Define and deliver a methodology to be used (i.e., who are the key informant populations, what is the sample size and its geographic and demographic distribution, what kind of survey, etc.)

– Run and analyse findings from both survey and key informant interviews carried out among CVOs, AHPM and other relevant animal health stakeholders (i.e., women’s associations, peasant associations, NGOs, even vets on the field, etc)

– All these elements should be:

– Considered into a concept note which specifically defines the methodological approach to be followed leading to

– Writing a policy brief providing key take away messages for CVOs and AHPM to consider in their future policies around animal health & AMR

Stage 2 (April 2027 – September 2027)

Building on the policy brief generated during stage 1, the work could be enriched and strengthened by carrying out:

– An open consultation across WOAH’s membership and relevant networks, existing and to be created in the near future

– A physical event during an international workshop (or a virtual event if more practical) with key stakeholders, representatives of WOAH’s membership

This will enable the transformation of ‘take-away messages’ into more formal recommendations. The consultation process will support the development of evidence-informed recommendations for consideration by WOAH Members and relevant technical bodies, including, where appropriate, considerations that may inform future work related to WOAH standards with an effective inclusion of GEDSI elements.

Stage 3 (April 2027 – September 2027)

In parallel to stage 2 activities, the selected consultant would be assigned to

– To explore understanding, knowledge, awareness and in-practice policies around GEDSI considerations, within:

– private sector representatives from the main food-producing domains (i.e., poultry, meat, dairy, eggs, aquatic farming),

– as well as the companion animal sphere (i.e., WSAVA)

Write a public report outlying a series of actions to increase awareness and improve policies around GEDSI elements in these two private sector areas, to eventually reduce impacts associated to inequalities.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

Required Qualifications

– Diploma: Ph.D. in social sciences; Post-doctoral experience in the domain (desirable)

Experience:

– At least 5 years of professional experience in social sciences & health systems

– Demonstrated experience in applying GEDSI analysis in health systems, public policy or other related field

– Proven experience in AMR and associated policies

– Demonstrated ability to understand animal health systems (desirable)

Required Skills

Technical Skills

– Excellent understanding of the social and political global situation of AMR across the One Health approach

– Proven ability to critically assess and compare data from various sources, integrating findings into strategic recommendations

– Good data analysis skills, including data visualization

– Proven experience in writing complex reports, policy briefs, as well as in presenting data and strategic orientations to public audiences

– Excellent command of the Microsoft Office Package (Word, Excel, Power Point)

– Excellent command of English

– Good knowledge of French or Spanish (desirable)

Interpersonal Skills

– Strong communication skills (verbal, written, interpersonal)

– Strong listener, with ability to consolidate and build up on others feedback

– Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team

– Organisational awareness, ability to establish priorities, work within tight timelines

– Capability of working in a multicultural environment with colleagues from different departments and offices

– Self-motivated with a focus on quality delivery

Additional Information

Working conditions

Salary: 400 EUR per day of work

Number of days of work: 150 days (commitment of 85 days with additional 65 days pending written confirmation)

Duration: 6 months (for stage 1 – 85 days)

with potential extension to a total of 12 months (for stages 2 & 3 – additional 65 days)

Location: WOAH Headquarters, 12 rue de Prony 75017 Paris, France or alternatively, remotely, with up to four one-week visits to WOAH Headquarters during the contract period.

General information

WOAH places high value on a multicultural and positive work environment.

WOAH is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates, irrespective of their origin, gender, opinions or beliefs.

If you are interested in the position, please complete your application online at the latest by October 2nd, 2026.