National One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established to combat hunger and improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, nutrition, and sustainable agricultural development. FAO was founded in 1945 and has since grown to include 194 member countries, operating in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization focuses on supporting governments in developing resilient agrifood systems and addressing emerging challenges that affect food security and livelihoods. FAO is dedicated to ensuring that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives, and it plays a crucial role in global efforts to eradicate hunger and malnutrition.

Job Overview:
The National One Health and AMR Coordinator position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Zimbabwe's national health security agenda by enhancing One Health coordination and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) governance. The incumbent will be responsible for overseeing integrated disease surveillance, laboratory systems, and fostering multisectoral collaboration. This role is pivotal in advancing national pandemic preparedness and response capacities while supporting the implementation of Zimbabwe's One Health and AMR priorities. The coordinator will serve as the principal national focal point for coordinating One Health and AMR activities under the Pandemic Fund project, which aims to strengthen integrated national systems for health threat prevention, preparedness, and response. The position requires close collaboration with various ministries, academic institutions, research organizations, and development partners to ensure effective implementation of health initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National One Health and AMR Coordinator include coordinating the implementation of Pandemic Fund activities in Zimbabwe, preparing and executing annual work plans and implementation schedules, facilitating collaboration among animal, human, wildlife, and environmental health sectors, and supporting the implementation of Zimbabwe's National Action Plan on AMR. The coordinator will also be responsible for developing and strengthening integrated AMR surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory quality systems, biosafety, and biosecurity, and strengthening surveillance systems for zoonotic diseases and emerging threats. Additionally, the coordinator will organize and facilitate capacity-building activities related to One Health, AMR, laboratory systems, and pandemic preparedness, coordinate stakeholder engagement and information-sharing among partners, and prepare technical reports, donor updates, progress reports, and knowledge products.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology, One Health, Animal Health, Biomedical Science, or a related discipline. A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in One Health, antimicrobial resistance, public health, veterinary public health, laboratory systems, zoonotic disease programs, or related fields is required. Candidates should also have a working knowledge (Level C) of English and must be nationals of Zimbabwe.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master's degree or equivalent, in fields such as Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Microbiology, One Health, Animal Health, Biomedical Science, or related disciplines. It is essential that candidates have their qualifications recognized by an institution accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in areas such as One Health, antimicrobial resistance, public health, veterinary public health, laboratory systems, and zoonotic disease programs. Candidates should have experience in project implementation, monitoring, and donor reporting, as well as demonstrated experience coordinating multisectoral programs and stakeholder platforms. Familiarity with international standards and guidance from organizations such as FAO, WHO, and WOAH is also important.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English, which candidates must have a working knowledge of (Level C). Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required for this role.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should be aware that appointment is subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. The position is likely to be full-time, and candidates are encouraged to visit the FAO employment website for additional employment opportunities.