One Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization focuses on transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. FAO Country Offices provide policy advice and support to countries, ensuring effective operations aligned with international standards and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. The current Country Programming Framework (CPF) for 2022-2025 emphasizes four priority areas: One Health, climate change response, food safety, and governance, gender, and persons with disabilities.

Job Overview:
The One Health Specialist will play a crucial role in conducting a comprehensive analysis of the current One Health situation related to animal health, environmental health, and the integration of these sectors into the national One Health architecture. This position requires the incumbent to assess policies, governance, coordination, financing, and technical capacities, utilizing guidance from FAO and its partners. The specialist will develop evidence-based recommendations and sectoral inputs for the National One Health Action Plan, ensuring alignment with the Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, the private sector, and civil society, to enhance the operationalization of One Health initiatives at the national level.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for conducting a desk review and situation analysis of existing national and subnational One Health governance, coordination, legislation, policies, and financing mechanisms. They will compile relevant data and summarize findings related to the One Health Joint Plan of Action. The specialist will support the national One Health assessment using the One Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and collaborate closely with technical personnel from FAO and national consultants. Key tasks include mapping stakeholders involved in animal, wildlife, aquatic, and environmental health, assessing institutional mandates and coordination mechanisms, and compiling results from consultations to identify gaps and prioritize actions. Additionally, the specialist will facilitate workshops, draft the national One Health Action Plan, and contribute to the costing and monitoring framework of the plan.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in veterinary medicine, animal health, public health, environmental health, epidemiology, or a related field relevant to One Health. A minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience in animal health, wildlife health, environmental health, or One Health program implementation is required, including experience in policy analysis and multi-sectoral coordination. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English and Vietnamese and must be nationals of Vietnam or residents with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in a relevant field such as veterinary medicine, animal health, public health, environmental health, or epidemiology is essential for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of One Health and its application in various sectors.

Experience:
The position requires at least 12 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as animal health, wildlife health, environmental health, or the implementation of One Health programs. Candidates should have a proven track record in policy analysis, governance assessment, and multi-sectoral coordination, demonstrating their ability to navigate complex health systems and contribute to national action plans.

Languages:
A working knowledge of both English and Vietnamese is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders at various levels, including government agencies and local communities.

Additional Notes:
The job does not specify a deadline for applications, which may indicate a rolling recruitment process. The position is likely to be full-time, and candidates should be prepared to engage in a collaborative environment with various stakeholders. Compensation and benefits details are not provided in the job description, but candidates can expect to work within the framework of FAO's organizational policies.