Veterinary epidemiologist(s) with the EuFMD

Job Location: 

Rome, Italy or home -based

Closing date: 

Thursday, August 22, 2019 - 20:30

The EuFMD is an intergovernmental body based within the Food-and-Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN-FAO), at its Headquarters in Rome. Our activities help to reduce the risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and similar transboundary animal diseases (”FAST diseases”) in over 80 countries in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia. The EuFMD works through the veterinary services (VS) of those countries in close co-ordination with FAO, OIE and European Commission (EC) as part of a coordinated regional and global programme. FAST diseases are an extreme test of resilience in such countries and a range of support is provided, from technical assistance with surveillance and control strategies through to innovative e-learning delivered to mobile phones for field workers. EuFMD’s programme of support to the European neighbourhood is undergoing development to provide surveillance support for additional disease risks which generates the need for additional persons to provide support particularly relating to surveillance. 

Positions will be filled on a full time (Rome or Home based) or daily-rate basis (e.g. 30-150 days per year) basis. The remuneration is dependent on experience [to a maximum of 90,000€ per annum and according to FAO rules and regulations].

Animal Health Officers (AHOs): Veterinary epidemiologist(s) and Disease Control Programme experts:

Animal Health Officers (AHOs) will provide technical expertise to assist the EuFMD work with countries (European neighbourhood and elsewhere) on the following:
·     Design, management and evaluation of the performance of surveillance programmes for epizootic animal diseases;
·     Improving the efficiency of national surveillance programmes;
·     Monitoring the progress of national control programmes, including vaccination programmes;
·     Regional, multi-pathogen early warning systems for epizootic virus incursions;
·     Development of national control programmes aligned to the progressive control pathway principles (PCP-   FMD);
·     Improved stakeholder engagement in control programmes (Public/private partnerships at national level). 
 
AHOs should have technical expertise in surveillance or disease risk management, and an advanced level degree or certified specialization in epidemiology (for the epidemiology position) or have a discipline highly relevant to disease control programme management. Sufficient years of relevant experience in disease control programmes may be accepted in place of higher degrees for the AHO - disease control programmes positions. Prior international experience outside of Europe but not a pre-requisite as the revenant skills may have been obtained within countries with advanced surveillance systems.