Regional Environment Specialist for One Health and AMR

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

Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of focused, multi-disciplinary projects and programmes. It identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, and promotes the value and deliverables of the FAO’s New Strategic Framework within the context and outputs of work to help our members achieve Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all – leaving no one behind.

The visibility of FAO’s successes in delivering its good public works within the framework of the abovementioned “Four Betters” is critical to the benefit of our members and our resource partners. The Regional Office aims to raise visibility of its supporting role for regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues and, through the development, facilitation and emergence of regional Partnerships, to support capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development across the region.

At the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Animal Health and Production Module is supporting delivery of the One Health Program Priority Area and the Regional Food Systems Transformation Initiative. Technical emphasis is placed on\: 1) Improved Sustainable livestock production, good husbandry & farming practices including supporting the Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and Pacific (APHCA)\: 2) Improved risk management, prevention and control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); 3) Prevention and control of zoonotic diseases (emerging, endemic & food-borne) & transboundary animal diseases; and 4) Expanding One Health beyond animal and public health stakeholders, to be inclusive of the forestry, wildlife, natural resource management and environment sectors.

FAO has launched a major global initiative, the Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative is an action-oriented, country-focused, and country-led initiative responding to the global agrifood systems transformation agenda. This ten-year global will contribute toward countries' agrifood systems transformation by providing comprehensive support in implementing good production practices that lead to a reduced need for antimicrobials and a prudent and responsible use when antimicrobials are needed.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Asia-Pacific.

Adopting One Health approaches to multi-sector health concerns, such as combatting AMR, has long been a priority for FAO and its partners (such as United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the European Commission, and a high level of political commitment has been mobilised within the G7, G20, United Nations (UN) and international organisations. To promote political commitment, good governance, and assist with developing relevant capacities across sectors to support AMR mitigation and pandemic preparedness, FAO, in collaboration with its partners is implementing a European Commission funded project “Working together to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR)” (UNJP/RAS/399/EC) with nine Asian countries (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam). As this work is with FAO it will focus primarily on the environmental issues associated with AMR as they affect, and affect, the farm animal production environment.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will deliver tasks and outputs under the overall direction of the Animal Health and Production Officer in the Animal Health and Production Module.

Technical Focus

the consultant will provide technical support to the “Working together to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR)” project, the Animal Health and Production module and the One Health Regional Priority Program to perform the following tasks\:

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and technical guidance of the Animal Health and Production Officer in FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok and in close consultation with the UNJP/RAS/399/EC project team, including representatives from FAORAP, UNEP,WHO (South East Asia Region (SEARO) and Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) and WOAH, the EU regional and country project focal points and communication officers, For environment and AMR technical issues\:
• Support for finalisation and dissemination of regional AMR surveillance guideline volume 4 – AMR monitoring and surveillance in the farm animal production environment, seeking to identify how farming practices can prevent excessive discharge of antimicrobial residues and AMR to the environment
• As part of guideline 4 support, summarise what AMR surveillance related to the farm animal production environment should be telling everyone – why do it and how and who to do it.
• Examine the value of spatial mapping of AMR emergence and transmission risk and prioritisation of interventions relating to the farm animal production environment; and
• Support piloting of AMR surveillance sampling protocols in countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
• Assess the implications of UNEP/WHO publication ‘Guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for manufacturing of antibiotics’ for the farm animal production environment contributing to AMR through their wastewater discharges.
• Provide environmental technical input to work regionally and globally in integrated AMR surveillance
• Prepare a fact sheet/guidance for producers and farmers to create awareness and improved their understandings the importance of proper waste management and the risks association with farm effluent and waste from an AMR & health/disease standpoint.

• For environment and AMR policy issues\:

o Lead an activity, in consultation with UNEP, related to RENOFARM and its role at the interface between the wider environment and the farm animal environment\:

• Identify which countries and organisations and countries have registered with RENOFARM;
• Identify which key stakeholders have yet to register with RENOFARM, especially those associated working around the interface between the wider environment and the farm animal environment, as well as identifying activities and actions to support their possible membership and
• Draft a guidance note for RENOFARM members in the region defining what actions are required and asking members to identify how they may contribute to the key actions defined.

o Provide farm animal production environment perspectives to quadripartite and country counterpart roles relating to environment sector and AMR (roles and cooperation on environmental dimensions of AMR across the quadripartite and with counterpart government and non-government institutions), building on work originally done by the quadripartite at headquarters level.
o Prepare a fact sheet on implications of antimicrobials in the environment on wildlife and biodiversity work with FAO’s Virtual Learning Centre (VLC) to build on the Open WHO course on AMR and environment, particularly linked to Module 4\: AMR in the environment in animal and plant production.

• Familiarize him/herself with FAO’s work globally and in the regional on all aspects of agriculture and environment (especially in relation to AMR).
• In collaboration with relevant RAP Regional AMR team members and the RAP Virtual Learning Centre, assist in the production and delivery of environment related training modules and related advocacy materials
• In collaboration with relevant RAP Regional AMR communications team, prepare quarterly web articles on agriculture and environment (especially in relation to AMR).
• Provide agriculture and environment technical advice to FAO’s Decentralized Offices (sub-regional and country) and support, backstop, and facilitate implementation of One Health or animal health and production projects in the Asia and Pacific Region;
• Perform any other related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines\:

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including\:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31\: https\://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines\: https\://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines\: https\://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE\: https\://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology\: http\://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https\://www.fao.org/nocs/en    
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree relevant to the above areas\: e.g. environmental or natural sciences or environment policy, agriculture, veterinary medicine, communicable diseases, public health, epidemiology
• At least five years of relevant experience at national and international levels in environmental policy and/or management especially in relation to multi-sectoral engagement, zoonotic disease management or antimicrobial resistance
• Excellent working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Microbiological/communicable disease/public health surveillance work experience in more than one country or region, and for more than one organization
• Knowledge of tools and international programs for microbiological/communicable disease/public health surveillance
• Experience of knowledge of surveillance in different resource settings and technology contexts
• Collaboration expertise with different stakeholders (civil society, academia, government counterparts, private sector, general public) and ability to work with diverse staff in an international work environment

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of AMR/microbiological/communicable disease/public health surveillance work experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of tools and international programs for microbiological/communicable disease/public health surveillance
• Demonstrated experience of knowledge of surveillance in different resource settings from high to lower-middle income countries
• Ability to distil complex information into concise and easily-understood information
• Ability to communicate verbally in a clear and concise manner and also written English competency
• Demonstrated experience working well with a team of diverse professionals, diverse stakeholders and across multiple cultures

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

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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