Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization
Country: LebanonClosing date: 10 Oct 2013
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Terms of Reference for Consultant/PSA
Deadline: 10 October 2013
Job Title: International Project Manager – Veterinary Epidemiologist
Division/Department: FAO-Lebanon
Programme/Project Number: OSRO/LEB/304/UK: Emergency Vaccination and Targeted Feeding of Livestock Grazing in Areas along the Syria-Lebanon Border
Location: Beirut with extensive within-country field missions
Expected Start Date of Assignment: 20 October 2013
Duration: 9 months with a possibility for extension contingent on the availability of funding
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASK(S) AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED
Livestock is the mainstay of the rural economy of Lebanon and has a significant impact on rural well-being and poverty alleviation, particularly in marginal areas bordering Syria. According to FAO statistics, almost 60 percent of livestock farmers depend on dairy as their main source of living. Risks associated with threats of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) along with other food quality and safety threats, are on the increase. Uncontrolled spread of TADs in the region can result in large losses of livestock. Among TADs the risk of diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) are spreading across the region. From unconfirmed reports, the LSD has now spread in the region beyond Syria, including Iraq and Turkey.
FAO is looking for an experienced International Project Manager with specialisation in Veterinary Epidemiology or Veterinary Infectious Diseases to lead the implementation of the DFID-funded project 'Emergency Vaccination and Targeted Feeding of Livestock Grazing in Areas along the Syria-Lebanon Border' in Lebanon. The incumbent will prepare a detail work plan and oversee the control programme of FMD, PPR and LSD. S/he will contribute to the preparation of National Control Programmes/Strategies on these diseases. The incumbent will work very closely with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to avoid overlaps with national immunization programme against priority contagious animal diseases and zoonoses for better coordinated livestock vaccination programme and synergy. The project will also benefit from existing management structures in Bekâa and the North, where FAO is currently implementing large-scale dairy production interventions.
FAO will undertake immediate emergency mass vaccination and targeting feeding and support the Lebanese MoA in the ramping-up of disease surveillance, quarantine, vaccination and TADs control programmes. The entire population of livestock farmers in Bekâa, the North Lebanon and other areas at risk will enrol in a regional national vaccination campaign, while the most vulnerable farmers will also receive animal feeds. The project will enhance food security conditions of the population affected by the ongoing crisis by reducing: (i) the threat of TADs including cases of LSD, FMD and PPR reported; and (ii) the number of animals dying, malnourished and being sold at reduced prices. The planned support will help local farmers/Bedouins to access to nutritious animal protein and keep their livestock assets – their only source of income during these difficult times.
Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Lebanon and the technical supervision of the RNE-Animal Production and Health Officer and in close collaboration with other international and national consultants and in cooperation with national counterparts (mainly the MoA), the Consultant shall:
- Prepare a detailed work plan for the project together with the PMU of LRF project and the national consultants of the DFID-funded project
- Organize project inception workshop and prepare reports immediately afterwards
- Lead a rapid needs assessment to identify livestock population at risk and vulnerable livestock keepers and available feed resources quantitatively and qualitatively in partnership with local government extension services, producers associations, etc
- Oversee the procurement of quality vaccines, animal feeds in coordination with the FAO office in Lebanon and PMU-LRF
- Design and coordinate emergency vaccination of sheep, goats and cattle against LSD, FMD and PPR with appropriate vaccines
- Lead the selection of beneficiaries, establishment of feed distribution centres, and distribution of animal feeds to beneficiaries. S/he will have to liaise and work with PMU of LRF-Dairy project to gain lessons from the on-going successfully being implemented FAO's project on smallholder dairy in Bekâa
- Identify and train veterinary professionals in good emergency management practices, epidemiological surveillance for TADs, bio-security, disease recognition and diagnosis in Lebanon.
- Contribute to the identification, training and equipping of community animal resources development workers (CARDWs) in order to improve veterinary and animal resources services at the community level in remote areas
- Coordinate the conduct of hands-on training for CARDWs in disease identification and reporting for early outbreak investigation and rapid containment of TADs, mainly LSD, FMD and PPR, as well as assessment of feed resources quantitatively and qualitatively, animal feeding/nutrition, fodder establishment and management.
- Coordinate with the MoA in developing a National TADs (LSD, FMD and PPR) Control Strategy/Programme based on available secondary information on epidemiology, reports by communities and national veterinary authorities on records of previous history, vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring (e.g. progressive control pathway for FMD & possibly for PPR).
- Implement farmer/livestock-field-school (FFS) to enable targeted livestock keepers to adapt or adopt existing or new technologies and practices on improving animal health, animal feeding and pasture/rangeland management based on protocols described in the DFID-funded project document.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Expected Outputs:
The Consultant is expected to:
- Draft timely periodic (quarterly) progress reports to be reviewed by LTO for submission to Donor;
- Conduct project-level meetings, prepare the work plan and detailed input requirements;
- Design epidemiological surveillance programme;
- Design national control strategy/programme for Lebanon per TADs - FMD, PPR & LSD;
- Train veterinary professionals, community animal resources development workers (CARDWs) and selected project beneficiaries;
- Prepare End of Assignment Report (considering all the quarterly reports) upon end of assignment.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:
- Degree in Veterinary Science and post-graduate qualification in Epidemiology or Veterinary Infectious Diseases
- Demonstrated experience at mid- or senior-level in designing and analysing surveillance studies, control programmes, capacity building of veterinary professionals, CARDWs and target beneficiaries, programme management including preparation of multi-annual work plans, budgets, progress monitoring and evaluation
- Working knowledge of English
- Knowledge of Arabic is an asset
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates should be assessed against the following:
- Demonstrated experience and skills in designing and analyzing surveillance studies and rapid appraisal and data analysis;
- Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting capacity building programmes;
- Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with government institutions, UN agencies, NGOs and donors;
- Demonstrated experience to manage multi-disciplinary teams;
- Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
- Experience of previous work in the Near East and North Africa region would be an advantage
- Excellent communication skills in English, both verbally and in writing. Working knowledge of Arabic is considered an advantage.
How to apply:
Send your application including the completed FAO Personal History Form (PHF), Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to: RNE-Vacancy@fao.org not later than 10 October 2013, 17:00 hrs Beirut time. For FAO PHF template visit the Application Toolkit at: http://www.fao.org/employment/current-vacancies/project/en/
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