Technical Specialist in Animal Health

Organizational Context

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) leads the region's response to food security, agriculture, and rural development priorities. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach, identifies regional priorities, and oversees FAO's strategic response in collaboration with headquarters. RAP also advises on programme integration, implements projects, monitors progress, and builds relationships with regional institutions. The region faces significant challenges including a large population, substantial livestock, increasing demand for protein, and a high prevalence of transboundary and zoonotic diseases, exacerbated by the Triple Planetary Crisis. The Animal Health and Production Module (AHP) within RAP focuses on improving livestock production efficiency, promoting sustainable practices, responsible antimicrobial use, and enhancing preparedness for animal and zoonotic diseases.

Job Purpose

This role aims to build a roster of Technical Specialists in Animal Health for Consultant and Personal Services Assignments (PSA) within the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). The specialists will contribute to various aspects of animal health programming across the region. Key areas of focus include disease prevention and control for Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs), Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs), and zoonotic diseases; disease surveillance and epidemiology; laboratory diagnostics; animal health economics; One Health approaches; antimicrobial resistance; monitoring and evaluation; programme and project management; and technical report writing. The roster will be used to identify candidates for assignments at regional or country levels, supporting FAO's mission to enhance animal health and production systems in Asia and the Pacific.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include supporting the design and implementation of animal health projects and programmes within the Asian Region. This involves providing technical expertise for disease prevention and control initiatives, strengthening country preparedness and response to animal health emergencies, and enhancing capacities of public and private sectors. Facilitating knowledge management, capacity building, and information dissemination at country and regional levels is crucial. Coordination with relevant partners and stakeholders for task implementation is essential. Specific roles may involve supporting programmes addressing TADs, EIDs, and zoonotic diseases, assisting in preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery activities, and developing technical guidelines. Other duties include designing and supporting events, strengthening national capacities for early detection and reporting, facilitating coordination among regional partners, and supporting capacity development in disease control and biosecurity. For surveillance specialists, this includes designing and implementing surveillance systems, analysing data, and developing protocols. Epidemiologists will conduct analyses and risk assessments, while laboratory specialists will support diagnostics and strengthen laboratory capacity. Animal health economists will conduct economic analyses and assess socio-economic impacts. One Health specialists will promote cross-sectoral integration, and AMR specialists will support surveillance and guidelines for responsible antimicrobial use. Monitoring and evaluation specialists will develop frameworks and analyse project data, while programme and operations specialists will support planning, coordination, and implementation. Report writers will draft technical documents and synthesize information.

Work Experience

A university degree from an IAU/UNESCO-recognized institution is required in veterinary sciences, epidemiology, public health, biomedical sciences, microbiology, economics, environmental sciences, or related development disciplines, depending on the assignment area. For consultants with a bachelor's degree, two additional years of relevant professional experience are needed. For PSA.SBS, a university degree or technical degree/certificate is required. At least one year of relevant experience is needed for Category C, five years for Category B, and ten years for Category A. This experience should be in areas such as animal health, veterinary services, livestock development, disease prevention and control, TADs, zoonoses, epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory systems, One Health, AMR, animal health economics, M&E, programme management, operations support, capacity development, or technical report writing.

Skills

Key skills include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement. These competencies are essential for effectively contributing to animal health initiatives, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and driving positive outcomes in the region.

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