Jobs at African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to hire an AMR Expert to provide technical support to the implementation and coordination of the project “Containing the Emergence and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa (CES-AMR Africa) Project”

Main Functions

1. Have responsibility for implementation of the CES-AMR Africa Project, under direct guidance of the Primary Program Contact at AU-IBAR
2. Support implementation of the AU Framework for AMR control
3. Provide policy advisory services on AMR and recommendations for related policy improvements
4. Provide technical assistance and guidance to member states and RECs in developing science-based AMR prevention and mitigation measures

Tasks

The AMR Expert will undertake the following tasks

1. Coordinate the establishment of the Africa AMR Surveillance Network (AMRSNET)
2. Convene fora of the Africa AMR Surveillance Network (AMRSNET)
3. Collaborate with relevant technical partners, laboratory standards organizations and other partners, in order to harmonize susceptibility testing and interpretation in Africa.
4. Develop a database of AMR reference laboratories in Africa to provide specialty testing, training and capacity building in national laboratories, including through twinning approaches.
5. Support the delivery of trainings aimed at building laboratories capacities to undertake AMR surveillance through south-south and north-south cooperation
6. Coordinate AMR surveillance activities in priority regional value chains
7. Contribute to the review and or development of AMR policies, strategies or National Action Plans at the national, regional or continental levels
8. Support AU Task Force on AMR to coordinate, monitor and report trends on AMR and AMU in Africa to relevant AU accountability mechanisms
9. Support the development of relevant advocacy, policy briefs and communication materials to advance AMR work in Africa
10. Support regular project management meeting between AU-IBAR, USDA-FAS and other relevant partners.
11. Prepare technical reports on progress in project implementation and achievements
12. Support the implementation of other AMR related projects and programmes at the African Union Commission
13. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Director of AU-IBAR

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Africa AMR Surveillance Network (AMRSNET) established
2. Forum of Africa AMR Surveillance Network (AMRSNET) convened at least annually
3. Trainings conducted to build laboratories capacities to undertake AMR surveillance
4. AMR surveillance undertaken in priority regional animal resources value chains
5. Member States and RECs supported on needs bases to review and or develop their AMR policies, strategies or National Action Plans
6. Report on trends on AMR and AMU and progress in combatting AMR in Africa produced and shared with relevant AU accountability mechanisms and Partners
7. Advocacy, policy briefs and communication materials to advance AMR work in Africa developed and disseminated to relevant stakeholders
8. Regular project management meetings between AU-IBAR, USDA-FAS and other relevant partners organized
9. Reports on progress in project implementation and achievements
10. Implementation of other AMR related projects and programmes at the African Union Commission supported

Academic Qualification

1. At least an advanced University Degree in veterinary medicine, microbiology, veterinary public health, public health, pharmacy, epidemiology or relevant field related to surveillance of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance. A PhD degree will be an added advantage.

General Experience

1. At least 10 years working experience in the animal health and animal production in either the livestock, fisheries and aquaculture sectors at national, regional or continental levels
2. At least 5 years demonstrated working experience in the field of One Health with emphasis on AMR and disease prevention and control
3. At least 5 years relevant experience in project management and

Specific Experience

1. Proven working experience in diagnostic testing; use of standardized protocols and laboratory quality assurance; collection and testing of specimens for AMR surveillance
2. Evidence of providing training and capacity building of AU Member States’ national AMR
3. Demonstrated knowledge in antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and infection prevention and control.
4. Working experience in coordinating and managing laboratory networks at national, regional or continental levels
5. Demonstrated working experience in developing policies, strategies, legislations and National Action Plans on AMR
6. Proven record of familiarization with and participation in policy processes for adoption of instruments, initiatives and development of recommendations by AU Policy Organs

Skills and Competencies

1. Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations;
2. Working knowledge of internationally recognized AMR surveillance systems such as the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems (ATLASS) etc.
3. Experience in the use of data for decision making, including AMR surveillance, outbreak investigation and demonstrated writing-skills through peer-reviewed AMR-related

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Overall Objective

The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide technical support for the implementation of the Animal Health Facilitating Trade Project” and the “Support for the Participation of African Nations in the Work of the World Organisation for Animal Health Project”.

Tasks

The Animal Health Expert will undertake the following tasks

1. Provide technical support for the implementation of the “Animal Health Systems Facilitating Trade” project and the “Support for the Participation of African Nations in the Work of the World Organisation for Animal Health” Project
2. Coordinate generation of evidence in beneficiary AU Member States and RECs to inform capacity development and disease risk management
3. Jointly coordinate with ECOWAS Commission on the harmonization of SPS processes for trade facilitation in priority animals and animal products in selected regional trade corridors
4. Support the delivery of capacity building activities to build core competencies for the design and implementation of evidence-based SPS measures in the animal health sector
5. Contributing to the identification of trade enhancing policies, regulatory, and procedural improvements in collaboration with RECs, AU Member States and relevant Partners to facilitate intra-African trade in animals and animal products
6. Develop relevant policy briefs for decision making
7. Monitor trade in animals and animal products in Africa and coordinate with RECs to prepare Outlook Report for trade in animals and animal products
8. Support the coordination of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and AU Member States to facilitate the development and presentation of African Positions on draft Chapters of WOAH on priority animal health issues
9. Coordinate dialogue platform to exchange views and comments on WOAH standards among the Africa Region and the Region of the America’s
10. Prepare final Technical Report on Project Implementation.
11. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Director of AU-IBAR

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. An inception report developed outlining detailed methodology and work plan to undertake the tasks
2. Evidence generated to inform capacity development and disease risk management interventions in selected beneficiary countries
3. Trade enhancing policies, regulatory, and procedural improvements to facilitate intra-African trade in animals and animal products identified
4. Activities to harmonize SPS processes for trade facilitation in priority animals and animal products in selected regional trade corridors coordinated
5. Capacity building activities on core competencies for implementation of SPS measures undertaken
6. Policy briefs developed and disseminated to stakeholders to support decision making
7. Outlook Report for trade in animals and animal products
8. African Positions on draft Chapters of WOAH on priority animal health issues coordinated and presented at the Specialist Commission meetings and the General Assembly of the WOAH
9. Dialogue platform to exchange views and comments on WOAH standards among the Africa Region and the Region of the America’s operationalized
10. Final Technical Report on Project Implementation.

Academic Qualification

1. At least an advanced University Degree in veterinary medicine, veterinary public health, epidemiology or relevant animal health related field. A PhD degree will be an added advantage.

General experience

1. At least 7 years of proven experience in public and/or private sector animal health services at national, regional or international levels;
2. At least 7 years’ experience working on management of priority transboundary animal diseases in the different regions of Africa particularly ECOWAS region;
3. At least 7 years’ working knowledge of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standards and the WTO SPS Agreement;
4. At least 7 years working knowledge of evaluation and assessment of various aspects of veterinary services using tools such as PVS, JEE etc

Specific Experience

1. Experience in delivering capacity development interventions for veterinary services in key competency areas for prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases based on WOAH standards;
2. Proven knowledge and experience on harmonization of disease prevention and control especially in cross border areas with focus on the ECOWAS region;
3. Proven record of familiarization with and participation in policy processes for adoption of instruments, initiatives and development of recommendations by ECOWAS and AU Policy Organs
4. Experience in formulating regional and continental animal health strategies and frameworks;
5. Demonstrated experience in the principles and practice of risk analysis as a tool for facilitating safe trade in animals and animal products
6. Proven working knowledge and experience on livestock values chains development;

Skills and Competencies

1. Demonstrated experience in establishment and implementation of sanitary agreements/protocols and undertaking technical negotiations to facilitate safe trade in animals and animal products;
2. Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations;
3. Proven record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals;