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 Veterinary Continuous Education Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO WBGS Head of Office, and the direct supervision of the Head of Programme in FAO-WBGS.

Technical Focus 

FAO is seeking a consultant in the field of veterinary continuous education to support in increasing the capacity of the workforce of the Palestinian veterinary services to conduct Preparedness, Prevention and Response activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

The specialist will perform the following key functions:

•    Conduct a desk review on existing veterinary education in Palestine, this includes revision of related documents as well as PVS-OIE 2017, WOAH guidelines and principals on the subject and academia, through
•    Conduct consultation sessions with related actors in the country and in coordination with General Directorate of Veterinary Services and Animal Health

•    Assess the veterinary services workforce (veterinarians and para veterinarians) capacities, needs and gaps regarding the veterinary continuing education including professional and managerial skills and competencies and referring to the PVS-OIE 2017 rating focusing on the One Health Approach. This may include and not limited to consultation meetings and workshop/s, onsite visits and others
•    Develop a comprehensive continuing education scheme for veterinarians and para veterinarians including proposed courses, target group, estimated duration and cost in line with WOAH guidelines and assessment findings and in coordination with the Veterinary Services
•    Develop a 5-year work plan for use of the continuing education programme by the Veterinary Services

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 Animal Health Educational scheme
•    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