Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist and support national governments to develop policies, strategies and programmes and projects to accelerate the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims at addressing national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and to help in developing the agricultural, fisheries, livestock, and forestry sectors, and to using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner, in line with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Objectives.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been classified among the top ten threats to global public health. An estimated 1 million deaths globally have been attributed to antibiotic resistance only in 2019. It has been suggested that without significant intervention, annual morbidity could increase to 10 million by 2050global further, AMR could potentially cause GDP loss of up to $3.4 trillion by 2030. Strengthening the AMR program, including diagnostic capacities and data-driven approaches, is crucial for achieving measurable impacts.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a top priority for the Ministry of Health, with governance mechanisms in place to address the threat, including the One Health Coordinating Platform and AMR Multisectoral Technical Working Group.
The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in Liberia in 2016 revealed that there is little progress towards mitigating AMR, particularly in the areas of awareness, stewardship, and AMR surveillance.  The lack of control on the sale of antimicrobials, the practice of self-medication and buying of substandard drugs from drug peddlers, unrestricted use of antibiotics in the agriculture industry coupled with poor waste management practices across sectors in Liberia constitute the risks of AMR. Additionally, 2020 recommendation from the AMR and AMU Situational Analysis conducted stressed the need for adequate enforcement of all standard operation procedures be gear toward further strengthening of the AMR National Action Plan (AMR NAP).
The 2018-2022 AMR-NAP strategic objectives align with GAP-AMR priorities but have expired. Revisit and update to address public health threats from resistant microorganisms, guiding prompt intervention in the next five years. The revision aims to enhance awareness and understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through effective communication, education, and training. It emphasizes strengthening knowledge and evidence through surveillance, reducing infection incidence in healthcare, animal health, plant/crop health food, and environment, optimizing antimicrobial use, and promoting research and innovation to develop alternative approaches to manage infectious diseases. Sustainable financing is also crucial for adequate resources for AMR containment.
The revision of the AMR NAP is essential for prioritizing and evaluating status of implementation of AMR related activities, as indicated in the findings and recommendations of the 2023 second JEE conducted in Liberia as well as the FAO Progressive Management Pathway for antimicrobial Resistance self-assessment conducted in 2022.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative for Liberia and the technical guidance of the Antimicrobial Resistance of the FAO Regional Office for Africa (FAO RAF), with the direct supervision of ECTAD Country Team Lead supported by the FAO National One Health/AMR Specialist, and in close collaboration with the ECTAD team, the AMR Technical working Group (TWG) and One Health Platform (OHP) of Liberia

Technical Focus 

The Consultant will contribute to the implementation of ECTAD Global Health Security (GHS) programme West and Central Africa – Supporting the Global health Security (GHS) program to address Zoonotic Disease and Animal Health in Liberia. He/She will support ECTAD initiatives in Liberia to build sustainable animal health and laboratory systems and One Health capacities to mitigate risks and threats caused by emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, endemic zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

 
Tasks and responsibilities

•    Prepare a roadmap for the consultancy with a clear work plan and submit to the FAO ECTAD Team;
•    Conduct desk review of documents relevant to AMR NAP revision;
•    Engage with the AMR One Health Technical Working Group, one health stakeholders and other experts for the revision and costing of the AMR NAP using the WHO costing tool;
•    In collaboration with FAO and OHP co-prepare for national consultative pre-validation workshop to inform drafting and costing of the plan and a workshop to validate the final draft;
•    Prepare for a four-day technical pre-validation meeting of the drafted and costed AMR NAP;
•    Prepare for a three-day national consultative workshop to validate the revised and costed AMR NAP.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Public Health, Food Safety, Agricultural Science
•    At least five (5) years of relevant experience in dealing with technical and policy issues related to AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU)
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
•    National of Liberia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

•    Advanced University Degree (master’s or PhD) in any of the following relevant fields (Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary medicine, Public Health, Microbiology, Food Safety, Agricultural Science or Biological Science) will be an added advantage
•    Proven ability of undertaking systematic document reviews and analysis including policies, technical reports, and manuscripts for publication in peer reviewed journals
•    Proven knowledge and experience with the One Health activities in Liberia
•    Must have proven record of knowledge of the AMR value chains in a multisectoral context in Liberia.
•    Technical report writing including structuring and drafting and presentation skills.