New Jobs at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

 
Job Title: NATIONAL CONSULTANT- ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

Job Posting: 29/Jul/2019

Closure Date: 13/Aug/2019, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit: FRURT

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Tanzania, United Republic of-Dar Es Salaam

Duration: 12 months WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Organizational Setting

FAO Tanzania is implementing a project GCP/GLO/710/UK under the UK- Fleming Fund Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The project aims to strengthen national capacities in combating issues emanating from AMR along the food and agriculture using the “One Health” approach. Combating AMR issues successfully requires a “One Health” approach, in which all relevant sectors implement actions synergistically by involving different actors and sectors such as human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, wildlife, finance, environment and the consumers. In a tripartite approach, FAO Tanzania in collaboration with OIE and WHO recognize that addressing health risks at the human-animal-plant-ecosystems interfaces requires strong partnerships among entities that may have different perspectives and different levels of resources. Such partnerships, which could include international organizations, governments, private sector, civil society, private sector and donors, must be coordinated to minimize the burden of AMR, antimicrobial residues (AR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) in the food and agriculture sectors with aim to reduce antimicrobial use and minimizing transmission of AMR through food chain.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO)/Chief, Animal Health Service (AGAH)/, the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania, and the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader, and under the technical guidance of the Global project coordinator and the SFS Livestock Officer; in collaboration with the ECTAD Tanzania team, the incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Technical Focus

The consultant will provide technical support to the planning, implementation and reporting of AMR project activities at FAO representation in United Republic of Tanzania. 

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead, facilitate and contribute to the process of developing/reviewing the national strategy on Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in agriculture, fisheries, food and livestock production and contribute to the operationalization of the National Action Plan to reduce the threat of AMR, with focus on the sections relevant to agriculture, livestock production, fisheries and food; as required under the Global Action Plan on AMR.
• Engage and collaborate with relevant national authorities, institutions,

organizations and stakeholders, including the WHO and OIE national focal points and delegate on the development of the national strategy and to promote FAO/OIE/WHO Tripartite collaboration in support of the implementation of the Global Action Plan on AMR.

Initiate a review of national legislation relevant to AMR and existing guidelines and regulations in the United Republic of Tanzania (Zanzibar), oversee the validation of the existing Tanzania mainland report, and the implementation of policy and legislative recommendations from these reports, in collaboration with the FAO legal development unit.

Support capacity building of surveillance systems, and capacity and capability of existing laboratories for the diagnosis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), to address gaps identified through recently conducted assessments, e.g. including through provision of training of personnel to enable them to undertake effective sampling and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in order to generate AMR data in the country, facilitating proficiency testing for quality assurance, and supporting surveillance pilots.

Organize and coordinate multistakeholder meetings in collaboration with WHO to support consultative meetings to develop and implement the Zanzibar Action Plan (ZAP) on AMR (2019-2024).

Facilitate operationalization of the Multisectoral Country Coordination (MCC) on AMR that take into account and support existing legislative processes (or other requirements).

Engage stakeholders from the side of agriculture, fisheries, food and livestock production in implementation of the National Action Plan.

Develop and adapt to the country situation existing advocacy tools to support and improve AMR awareness among food and agriculture sector stakeholders as part of the One Health approach. FAO will actively participate in the National related agricultural events/exhibitions to undertake AMR awareness campaign to the public and farmers and livestock community including executing AMR awareness campaign during the world antibiotic awareness week (WAAW).

Undertake pilot interventions on the use of antimicrobials in livestock production settings to promote good practices and prudent use of antimicrobials in the food and agriculture sectors, and support collection of AMU data from these sectors.

Undertake mapping of AMR Surveillance stakeholders and the veterinary medicines supply and distribution chain.

Organize a national multi-stakeholder workshop involving major stakeholders (private sector, academia, farmers, government, veterinarians etc.), including participants from the public health, animal health and environment.

Map out the livestock and food systems and respective actors, roles and responsibilities and lines of influence,

Establish a multi-stakeholder platform to support awareness raising activities, advocacy, identification of responsibilities, and improved decision-making and policy formulation on AMU and AMR and to provide the basis for developing a national strategy to reduce the threat of AMR related to agriculture, fisheries, food and livestock production along the lines of the Global Action Plan.

Identify and coordinate with other AMR relevant initiatives and projects underway within Tanzania, identifying opportunities for synergies and collaborations, and identifying and applying for new funding sources.

Produce a final report listing activities implemented in the preceding year and planned activities to implemented in the subsequent year of the project

Prepare monthly project progress and implementation report.

Carry out any other duties relevant to this area of work and as delegated by the organisation

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced University Degree in Veterinary Medicine with post-graduate study in microbiology, epidemiology or related fields
Seven years of relevant experience in animal health sector
Extensive experience in the monitoring/surveillance of AMR and AMU
Working knowledge of English and technical report writing skills
National of Tanzania

FAO Core Competencies
Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
Proven experience in anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and microbiology
Extensive knowledge on the drivers of AMR emergence and spread
Good knowledge of the One Health approach and its application and relevance in the prevention and control of AMR and other emerging and re-emerging healthrisks at the human-animal interface
Proven experience in conducting risk assessment and or analysis
Systematic document review and analysis
Working knowledge of the official language of the country (if considered necessary)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

HOW TO APPLY
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

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