International Consultant and Call Purpose

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was established in 1945 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. FAO's mission is 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. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs approximately 12,000 staff members. FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The organization is committed to sustainable livestock systems, which are integral to achieving its strategic objectives and operational priorities. FAO’s Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) is involved in various programs and projects across multiple countries and regions, focusing on animal health and One Health initiatives.

Job Overview:
The position of International Consultant and Call Purpose involves providing specialized expertise, skills, or knowledge for specific tasks or assignments of a short-term nature. The consultant will be engaged to support the activities of the One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH-CJW) within the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) of FAO. This role includes contributing to the implementation of FAO’s animal health and One Health agenda, particularly activities under the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES-AH). Selected candidates may be involved in various thematic areas and may undertake short-term assignments ranging from a few days to a maximum duration of 11 months, with possible extensions based on performance and resource availability. The consultant will report to the Senior Animal Health Officer or Animal Health Officer, under the guidance of the Chief of the One Health and Disease Control Branch.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a range of duties, including:

• Supporting the management and coordination of FAO Reference Centres, conducting gap analysis, strategic planning, monitoring activities, and preparing reports and knowledge products.
• Organizing meetings, consultations, and technical events, and liaising with FAO technical officers, governments, partners, and relevant international organizations.
• Supporting risk assessment and epidemiological activities, including geospatial analysis, risk modelling, value chain studies, and simulation exercises.
• Contributing to disease intelligence, early warning, risk modelling, and forecasting, and supporting the implementation of digital data collection and evaluation tools.
• Providing technical support for disease prevention and emergency preparedness, including the application of FAO early warning and biosecurity tools.
• Supporting epidemiological and surveillance capacity development across countries and regions, including strategy development, training, and guidance on surveillance tools.
• Contributing to the development of technical guidelines, tools, and training materials, including e-learning resources.
• Supporting the development of technical and advocacy materials and compiling evidence to support policy dialogue and resource mobilization related to transboundary animal diseases.
• Engaging with governments, industry, academia, and partners to inform priorities and strengthen partnerships. 1
• Contributing to planning and reporting processes, including action plans and consultancy reports. 1
• Performing other related duties as required to support FAO programme objectives.

Required Qualifications:
For Consultants: An advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in a relevant discipline. Consultants with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. At least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B), or 10 years (Category A) of relevant experience in areas such as disease surveillance, disease intelligence, laboratory capacity development, One Health programmes, and analysis of livestock-related data. Experience working with international or regional organizations is essential, along with proficiency in English or French (Level C). Knowledge of another FAO language is an asset. For PSA Subscribers: A university degree or technical specialization in a discipline relevant to FAO’s Programme of Work, with at least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B), or 10 years (Category A) of relevant experience in areas such as animal health, programme support, project design, and communication. Proficiency in English or French (Level C) is required, and knowledge of another FAO language is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in a discipline relevant to the duties listed or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. For consultants, a bachelor's degree is acceptable if accompanied by two additional years of relevant professional experience. For PSA subscribers, a university degree or technical specialization in a discipline relevant to FAO’s Programme of Work is necessary.

Experience:
The level of experience required for this position varies by category. For consultants, at least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B), or 10 years (Category A) of relevant experience in fields such as disease surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity development, and One Health programmes is necessary. For PSA subscribers, similar experience levels are required, with a focus on animal health programmes, project support, and monitoring and evaluation. Experience working with international and/or regional organizations is highly valued.

Languages:
Proficiency in English or French (Level C) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, working knowledge of another FAO language such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve full-time or part-time functions, and selected candidates may be invited to undertake short-term assignments ranging from a few days to a maximum duration of 11 months. Extensions may be considered based on satisfactory performance and the availability of resources. The role is focused on providing technical support and expertise in animal health and One Health initiatives, and candidates will be assessed based on their qualifications, experience, and ability to contribute to FAO's objectives.