Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO Country Offices, headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO participates in the development and implementation of field projects in the sectors of food security, agriculture, and rural development. This requires the integration within the broader framework of sustainable food and agriculture that aims at increasing production and productivity, addressing climate change, and managing natural resources; and enhance rural livelihoods.

The Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Viet Nam is dedicated to working with the government in preventing and controlling emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases by working closely with national stakeholders in the animal production and health sector. The tasks envisaged for this position are to be carried out through the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), which is currently implementing a number of projects in various countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

Reporting Lines

The National Surveillance Coordinator – Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Programme shall work under the overall supervision of the FAO Country Representative and under the direct supervision of the ECTAD Senior Technical Coordinator in Viet Nam, and technical backstopping of the ECTAD regional team for Asia and the Pacific. The National Surveillance Coordinator will support the country veterinary services (VS) in the development and implementation of surveillance activities while supporting the National OH platform.

Technical Focus

Support the implementation of surveillance activities in ECTAD programme portfolio.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support and assist the Senior Technical Coordinator to deliver ECTAD programme in Viet Nam;
•    Support trainings and the implementation of the national surveillance programme for influenza and other zoonotic diseases;
•    Organize and provide technical inputs to the training to develop local capacity to fulfil surveillance duty, responding to outbreaks, reporting of surveillance results;
•    Mentor national and international trainees and graduate students in epidemiology and One Health;
•    Support animal health authorities to conduct outbreak investigation and reporting;
•    Analyse and share surveillance results with relevant stakeholders, public health sector, neighbouring countries and the global community;
•    Development of manuscript for publication, scientific conference poster, presentation, and participation to regional/international scientific workshop/conference;
•    Support and/or participate in relevant workshops/meetings;
•    Provide technical support for the implementation of ECTAD activities to develop epidemiology capacity, sharing epidemiology information and risk assessment;
•    Provide technical inputs to reports, periodical diseases updates, FAO surveillance database (EMPRES/GLEWS), events, and support field missions as needed;
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    Advanced University degree in Veterinary Epidemiology/animal health/public health or a related field.
•    A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in animal health surveillance and the use of FAO and other global diseases information platforms.
•    Working knowledge of English (C).
•    National of Viet Nam.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Graduated from in-service field veterinary epidemiology training programme is preferred
•    Conversant with epidemiological tools for data collection, validation and analysis (temporal & geographical).
•    Professional experience in veterinary epidemiology, including production of disease hotspot maps.
•    Demonstrated evidence of skills in data analysis and use of various diseases information platforms.
•    Good understanding on sensitivity and confidentiality of animal disease data
•    Ability to work with minimum instruction and deliver required within given time limit
•    Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams, and good interpersonal skills.
•    Good computer skills as well as ability to use epidemiological tools.

Selection Criteria

Based on requirements, competencies, and skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION