JOB DESCRIPTION
Organizational Setting
The European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an Article XIV body responsible to its Member States and donors to deliver an extensive work programme on FMD emergency preparedness, response and control in its 39 Member Nations, further 20 European neighbourhood countries, and in other regions through its arrangement with FAO decentralized offices.
The EuFMD plays a significant role in the animal health part of FAO’s programme to increase resilience of agri-food systems to threats and crises through improved animal disease prevention, early warning, and management of risks. EuFMD has established a globally respected capacity for efficient delivery of training, in-country and online support to emergency preparedness, risk reduction and progressive control of FMD with and through the decentralized offices.
EuFMD Members have recently adopted a new strategy 2023-2027 (Move FAST – GET Prepared) aligned with FAO’s work on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, which in turn is at the interface of the four betters of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31. Move FAST strategy builds on good principles for the control of FMD and extend them to similar Transboundary animal diseases (TADs), it is specifically aimed at Better Production, and it is linked to FAO’s One Health Program Priority Area.
The related workprogramme 2023-2027 is divided in three focus objectives:
• FO1: Protect livestock sector in Member Nations from FMD and similar TADs introduction and spread;
• FO2: Ensure adequate capacities to respond to crises and improve resilience of livestock sector to FMD and similar TADs in Member Nations;
• FO3: Sustain the control of FMD and similar TADs in risk areas to reduce the spread of diseases and their impact on livestock sector.
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These are delivered through seven action areas to ensure a safer Europe from the daily threat of FMD and similar TADs: (i) Risk monitoring; (ii) Risk mitigation; (iii) Capacity development; (iv) Tools and resources; (v) Support to Global FMD control strategy; (vi) FMD and similar TADs control; and (vii) Vaccine security.
Overall, the programme is expected to maintain an effective risk monitoring capability; ensure a good level of preparedness and prevention for FMD and similar TADs incursion; reinforce early warning systems in FMD and similar TADs risk areas within EuFMD Member Nations and other regions; improve the efficiency and effectiveness of surveillance and control programmes; and enhance vaccine security through multistakeholder platform collaborations.
The purpose of this Call is to identify suitably qualified and experienced consultants and/or PSA subscribers to populate a roster for the following Technical Specialist profiles:
1. Epidemio-Surveillance and Laboratory specialists on FMD and similar TADs
2. Risk assessment, risk management and modelling specialists on FMD and similar TADs
3. Emergency preparedness specialists on FMD and similar TADs
4. Technical, Scientific, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Biosafety Specialists in FMD and similar TADs vaccines
Candidates may be involved in more than one orientation and may be invited to undertake short-term assignments ranging in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.
Reporting Lines
The consultant/PSA reports directly to the Senior Animal Health Officer and Focal Objective Technical leads for functional and policy guidance.
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Technical Focus
Support to delivery of donor-funded work programmes at global, regional, sub-regional and country level.
Support the implementation of the work programme under one or more Focus objectives, ensuring activities and inputs are provided on time and ensuring proper supervision of the technical areas assigned.
Provide guidance or inputs to improve the activities that relate to prevention and control of FMD and similar TADs, provide technical backstopping to field projects as required, and plan and participate in missions relating to the work programme or on an emergency basis.
Support capacity building of official veterinary services for prevention and/or control of FMD and similar TADs through support to development or delivery of trainings (online and face-to-face) and workshops as an expert trainer.
Undertake other relevant tasks as deemed necessary by the Secretariat.
Tasks and responsibilities
The consultant/PSA will provide support to the implementation of the EuFMD work programme at global, regional, sub- regional and country level. This includes, but it is not limited to, any surge of support required for managing the changing priorities following disease emergencies and changes in programme decided by the Executive Committee and the major donors.
The key functions will be as following (tasks will be assigned according to the specific profile):
1. For Epidemio-Surveillance and Laboratory specialists on FMD and similar TADs:
• Support the activities of the EUFMD workplan to sustain the FMD Global Control Strategy, taking an active role in international advocacy for the preparedness for FMD and similar TADs incursions, and for progressive control of FMD in non-free countries, increasing visibility of the PCP and other relevant tools and approaches.
• Assist the delivery of the programme to enhance early warning systems for FMD and similar TADs in EuFMD Member Nation and in the European Neighbourhood, including the provision of technical support to risk-based surveillance and/or laboratory capacity development
2. For Risk assessment, risk management and modelling specialists on FMD and similar TADs;
• Provide expert guidance and assistance to the Secretariat, EuFMD Member Nations and neighbouring countries on risk assessment and/or management for FMD and similar TADs.
• Support the development of disease spread models and risk monitoring tools that can assist the Secretariat, the EuFMD member nations and their neighbouring countries to improve their contingency plans and their level of preparedness against FMD and similar TADs.
3. For Emergency preparedness specialists on FMD and similar TADs:
• Provide expert guidance to the Secretariat and, where required, the EuFMD member nations, relating to prevention, emergency preparedness and response to FMD and similar TADs threats;
• Provide expert direction to the capacity building programme for Member countries aimed at improving skills to better respond to animal health crises and support the development and delivery of trainings and simulation exercises;
4. For Technical, Scientific, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Biosafety Specialists in FMD and similar TADs vaccines
• Support the design and/or implementation of the Prequalification Systems for Foot-and Mouth and Similar Transboundary Disease vaccines (PQv) and medicines (PQm) through consultation with stakeholders involved in quality control and regulation, the development of sustainable business models, the definition of testing schemes
• Assist the development of a methodology to evaluate and assure quality of vaccine supply chains
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Depending on the Profile and orientation:
For Consultants:
• University degree in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or otherwise related to FAO’s Programme of Work;
• At least five years of relevant work experience in one or more of the following:
o Risk assessment and/or management of FMD and similar TADs;
o Epidemiology and/or FMD and similar TADs diagnosis
o Laboratory diagnostic investigation for FMD and similar TADs diagnosis
o Mathematical modelling of biological processes, application of computer sciences to modelling
o Emergency preparedness and control of FMD and similar TADs
o Evaluation or regulation of veterinary vaccines and/or pharmaceutical medicines to national and international standards
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of FAO’s Official languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian.
For PSAs:
• University degree in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or otherwise related to FAO’s Programme of Work;
• At least one year of relevant work experience in one or more of the following:
o Risk assessment and/or management of FMD and similar TADs;
o Laboratory diagnostic investigation for FMD and similar TADs diagnosis
o FMD and similar TADs diagnosis
o Epidemiology and/or FMD and similar TADs diagnosis
o Mathematical modelling of biological processes, application of computer sciences to modelling
o Emergency preparedness and control of FMD and similar TADs
o Evaluation or regulation of veterinary vaccines and/or pharmaceutical medicines to national and international standards
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Selection Criteria
• Post-graduate qualification in epidemiology or in a discipline relevant to the management of FMD and similar TADs (for specialist in Laboratory Epidemio-Surveillance, Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness);
• Post-graduate qualification in computer science or in a discipline relevant to disease spread modelling tools or risk monitoring (for specialist in modelling);
• Post-graduate experience obtained within the public or private sector in meeting the requirements for regulation of veterinary vaccines, biologicals or pharmaceuticals in the fields of quality, safety or efficacy for obtaining registration with national and/or regional regulatory authorities;
• For Senior positions: at least twelve years of post-graduate of relevant experience is required;
• Knowledge of more FAO’s Official languages will be considered an asset;
• Familiarity with liaising with FAO central and decentralized offices as well as the knowledge of protocol procedures will be considered an asset;
• Experience developing and delivering online or face-to-face training through a range of online and other modalities will be considered as an asset;
• Strong communication skills in English.