Animal Production and Health Officer (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 persons 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
• 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 main aim of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and nutrition and reduce hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Cairo, Egypt.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision and technical guidance of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (NSAH) and the Senior Animal Health Officer/Head of Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD), with the administrative and functional guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR); in close consultation with relevant services in the Animal Production and Health Stream (NSA) and with relevant ECTAD’s technical and operational units, the Animal Production and Health Officer (ECTAD Country Team Leader) will liaise with the FAOR in order to interface with the Government of Egypt (GoE) and the international community to provide expert opinion on the prevention, detection and control of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza; other transboundary diseases (TADs), emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). The Animal Production and Health Officer (ECTAD Country Team Leader) shall focus his/her initial input into the below listed key and specific functions.

Technical Focus

The Animal Production and Health Officer (ECTAD Country Team Leader)provides technical support to the team and national authorities as well as advice related to animal diseases under Global Health Security Programme, especially on the prevention, detection, response and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza; and other TADs including zoonoses, as well as emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). The focus will be as well on AMR and One Health.

Key Results

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

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams; leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and/or 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 online tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices and increases policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Manages the ECTAD country team, in coordination with the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Egypt.
• Coordinates and manages the USAID-supported Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) country programme and other ECTAD projects, including overall guidance and technical supervision.
• Liaises with the host government, development partners, multilateral agencies and national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as the private sector in all matters related to high impact emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic disease prevention and control programme and related activities.
• Provides advice to the FAOR on livestock and animal health matters and allied issues related to public health in order to apply a more integrated and coherent model of project and programme delivery at country level.
• Advises the government on any technical matter related to its national control programme in line with FAO and other joint strategies with international partners (e.g. FAO/World Organisation for Animal Health - OIE, FAO/World Health Organization - WHO and FAO/OIE/WHO), or international standards.
• Ensures smooth integration of the Global Health Security Programme (GHSP) activities and programme staff into the programmatic and administrative operations of the FAO Representation in the country of assignment; and contributes towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme.
• Consults with country counterparts at Ministerial or Governorate level on issues related to animal health and animal disease management, including the private sector.
• Ensures and maintains a recognized national platform for coordinating technical assistance including immediate response required to manage and address the challenges of animal health threats, in line with government requirements and priorities.
• Maintains links with the established national networks on diagnosis and epidemiology to exchange and share technical information related to priority and high-impact animal diseases.
• Contributes to resource mobilization efforts, leveraging existing funds, to expand animal health-related projects identified as priorities by the National Government.
• Performs other duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in animal science, veterinary science or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in animal production and health programmes including at least five years of experience at international level in developing countries and experience in the Middle East North Africa region.
• 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.
• Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing country disease situation and response and related issues.
• Extent and relevance of experience in livestock development and animal health, preferably in the Middle East North Africa region.
• Extent and relevance of project/programme formulation, implementation and technical support experience.
• Ability to organize emergency and large-scale livestock development and animal health strategies and campaigns.