Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members – 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to promote better production, better nutrition, and better environment for a better life.

The FAO Coordination Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip Programme implements the Country Programming Framework for Palestine to enhance the wellbeing of Palestinian people by making the agrifood system more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable in alignment with national policies and strategies and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF).

Since 2002, the FAO Coordination Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) has supported the preparation for, and response to, food and agricultural threats and livelihood emergencies in the WBGS through emergency relief, rehabilitation, and revitalization of productive capacity. FAO interventions aim to promote social and economic stability within the Palestinian community by addressing barriers to youth employment by tapping into the underutilized potentials of the agri-food sector and enabling young people to capture various market-driven opportunities from the transition to the green economy and help protect access and entitlements of Palestinian farming households to land, water, services, and markets. Such interventions are essential to enhance overall food security, reduce dependency on relief assistance amongst vulnerable Palestinians, and contribute to institution building.

Reporting Lines

The Animal Disease and Surveillance Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO WBGS Head of Office, and the direct supervision of the Head of Programme.

Technical Focus 

FAO is seeking a highly motivated incumbent to support the Palestinian Veterinary Services in improving the animal disease surveillance system technically and operationally.

Tasks and responsibilities

The specialist will perform the following key functions:

•    Conduct an assessment of and prioritizes existing animal health diseases in Palestine using scientific approach this includes a literature review of national and international related documents including and not limited to PVS- OIE 2017, existing control plans, National Food Safety Strategy, as well as through consultation with key stakeholders including the Veterinary Services, public and private veterinarians, livestock owners, public health specialists and others.
•    Develop a surveillance action plan for animal health diseases including zoonotic and food products of animal origin in coordination with the Palestinian Veterinary Services.
•    Develop a list of prioritizes existing animal health diseases in Palestine in coordination and agreement with Veterinary Services and based on the assessment in the first point.
•    Develop Standard Operational Procedures (SoPs) and guidelines of at least three prioritized animal diseases active surveillance tailored to the Palestinian context in coordination with Palestinian Veterinary Services.
•    Provide coaching to the veterinarians to enhance their skills and competencies in implementing the technical guidelines and SoPs through the delivery of a two-day training course on the guidelines and SoPs and as a result of this process, the veterinary services will be piloting one of the surveillances plans, the SoPs and guidelines.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Veterinary/Animal Health. PHD degree would be desirable.
•    At least four years of experience in Epidemiology/ Zoonotic and in animal diseases surveillance.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English Language and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other languages of the organization (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian). For PSA.SBS the working knowledge of only one language is required.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one area of work related to the topic of the assignment.
•    Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
•    Limited knowledge (level B) of Arabic language is preferable.