One Health Intelligence and Early Warning Specialist

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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 member nations, 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 our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) has a key role in assisting Member countries on livestock development, health and policies to achieve the growth and transformation of the livestock sector and progress towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within NSA, the Animal Health component of the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases (EMPRES) develops strategies and policies for improved prevention, detection, preparedness and response to transboundary animal diseases (including transboundary zoonotic diseases). Early warning for high impact diseases is one of the core areas of EMPRES. Through the EMPRES - Global Early Warning System (GLEWS), disease intelligence and information collated, and risk assessments, alerts and forecasting of high impact animal diseases provided to member countries. Information is also shared with Tripartite partners through the joint FAO-OIE-WHO Global Early Warning System (GLEWS ) for threats at the human-animal-interface. The EMPRES/GLEWS team in the Animal Health Service performs global disease intelligence and provide analysis, training and risk assessment on animal health threats to enhance regions and country capacities in early warning, disease surveillance and risk assessment.

In order to build on and strengthen the long-existing and effective collaboration between FAO and the Tripartite member organisations (WHO, OIE and UNEP) in a number of sectors, FAO is committed to improve and expand its One Health (OH) Early Warning and disease intelligence capacities and activities.
The incumbent will lead the activities on disease intelligence analysis and forecasting to ensure early warning and early action for transboundary disease threats affecting global health, food security and livelihoods to enhance resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.

FAO International Consultant and Call purpose

A consultant/PSA is engaged by the Organisation to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which may involve full-time or part-time functions. The purpose of this Call is to identify suitably qualified and experienced consultants and/or PSA subscribers to populate a roster for a Technical expert on One Health disease intelligence, analysis, early Warning, risk assessment and forecasting.
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 Organisation.

Reporting Lines

The consultant/PSA, will work under the overall supervision of the Chief, Animal Health Service/Chief Veterinary Officer-FAO and the technical guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Animal Health Officer, EMPRES-Animal Health in collaboration with technical units in NSA, other FAO divisions, the joint Centre for Zoonoses and AMR (CJWZ) and the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) teams and decentralized offices at all levels,

Technical Focus

Support the delivery of the EMPRES and OH early warning activities of FAO including transboundary and production limiting diseases (including endemic and emerging zoonoses) with a focus on disease intelligence and information, as well as strategies for integrated data capture, methodologies and tools for data collection, monitoring and analysis for early warning, forecasting and improved OH disease information systems. This will also include digital and innovative solutions for addressing inequalities in health systems through an integrated One HH approach.

Tasks and responsibilities

Following are the generic functions for which candidates are sought. Specific tasks and responsibilities will be defined in Terms of Reference prepared for different assignments, according to:
• the profile orientation required and
• the selected candidates’ experience, qualifications and expertise.

The key functions will be as following (tasks will be assigned according to the specific profile):
• Assessing the gaps and needs in existing OH information systems at global, regional and national level, engaging relevant sectors and disciplines including animal health, wildlife, environment, public, academia, research and private sectors at global, regional and national levels;
• Identify approaches and define strategies to improve national and international integrated One Health information systems for human, animal, plant and environmental health through improved data capture, integration and analysis for early warning and management of national and global health risks, including AMR;
• Provide, in a One Health perspective, expert guidance on Early Warning and disease intelligence related activities including, but not limiting to:
o Improving national animal health information and reporting systems, including the establishment of early warning systems and the adoption of new reporting tools (e.g. mobile applications);
o Improving data capture, reporting and information sharing relevant to animal health threats for early warning and early action purposes, liaising with various international partners, FAO divisions, services and units at HQ and with decentralized offices;
o Risk assessment and forecasting for animal health and food origin threats including the implementation of risk assessment tools;
o Manage disease information and epidemic intelligence activities, through the use of different tools such as EIOS, for upload into the Global Animal Disease Information System (EMPRES-i);
o Process, analyse epidemiological data on transboundary animal diseases including zoonosis hosted in EMPRES-i;
• Coordinate and liaise with CSI and within NSAH and CJWZ, on the upgrade of EMPRES-i with a focus on improving data analysis, visualization and disease forecasting including development and upgrades of dashboards integrated in EMPRES-i (as per agreed deliverables with CSI);
• Support the EMA-i team, for two-way integration of country interface with EMPRES-i and the interoperability with public health data systems at country level and other information systems (e.g. SILAB-FA);
• Coordinate and liaise with CSI, to support the improvements of the Event Mobile Application (EMA-i) and the development of innovative tools and methodologies for improving data collection at field level, including approaches for event based and syndromic data;
• Coordinate and contribute to the assessment of interoperability gaps between existing information systems at Tripartite organisations (FAO, WHO, OIE and UNEP) and identify, and consult upon, the most appropriate and feasible information system architecture and product design options for strengthening One Health intelligence;
• Coordinate and contribute to the activities of the GLEWS and GLEWS as requested or needed by the Tripartite or Tripartite ;
• Participate in teams assessing of capacities of countries in, disease reporting, surveillance, OH early warning and forecasting;
• Coordinate the development and implementation of applied training activities for early warning and use of associated tools through in person and virtual capacity development initiatives (through In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training, Field Epidemiology Training [programme] for Veterinarians, Virtual Learning Centres);
• Participate in preparing publications and presentations for meetings and conferences related to disease information systems, risk assessment and early warning;
• Initiate and develop concept notes and project formulation for presentation to donors on disease intelligence, Health Information Systems and Early Warning using FAO’s logical framework approach;
• Perform other related activities as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Depending on the Profile and orientation:
• University degree in epidemiology, veterinary public health, public health or in a discipline relevant to the duties listed, including technical areas listed above;
• At least five years of relevant experience in in one or more of the following:
o early warning systems related activities (such as assessments, strategies and implementation);
o information systems and product design related to integration and interoperability of information systems;
o epidemiology, early warning, data analysis, disease intelligence and risk assessment, and risk modelling;
o project design, budget planning and management;
o health capacity assessment frameworks and monitoring systems
o Working with international and/or regional Organizations and/or Institutions;
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of FAO languages French, Spanish, Arabic. (for PSA it is required only one language)

FAO Core 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
• Extent and relevance of experience in epidemiology, data analysis, risk assessment and modelling
• Extent and relevance of experience in public health and One Health
• Familiarity with methodologies of project management
• Familiarity with software development cycle and information systems, data architecture and systems interoperability

Selection Criteria

• Post-graduate qualification in veterinary medicine/science, epidemiology, public health, risk assessment, or in a discipline relevant to the management of One Health programmes, and/or experience in working in the official veterinary services/international organizations is preferable;
• At least 5 years’ experience in working on Early Warning and Information Systems related matters with multi-disciplinary teams from animal and public health sectors;
• Familiarity with liaising with FAO central and decentralized offices as well as the knowledge of protocol procedures will be considered an asset;
• Previous experience in the assessment of needs and in the development of national and/or international information systems;
• Strong communication skills in English.

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