The African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR) is a specialized technical office reporting to the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AU Commission.
The institution supports and coordinates the improvement of livestock as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States of the African Union by contributing to economic development and food security, particularly in rural areas.
AU/IBAR approaches livestock development in three strategic thrusts: animal health, animal production and trade and marketing of animal products.
Closing date: 13 Apr 2009
Location: Kenya - Nairobi
The African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU/IBAR) is a specialized technical office reporting to the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AU Commission. The institution supports and coordinates the improvement of livestock as a resource for human wellbeing in the Member States of the African Union by contributing to economic development and food security, particularly in rural areas. AU/IBAR approaches livestock development in three strategic thrusts: animal health, animal production and trade and marketing of animal products.
SPINAP-AHI
AU/IBAR implements the Support Programme to Integrated National Action Plans on Avian and Human Influenza in Africa. SPINAP-AHI’s goal is to contribute to the reduction of the socioeconomic impact of avian and human influenza and the potential loss of human lives by preventing and controlling avian influenza in animals as well as preparing for a possible human influenza pandemic. The programme’s objective is to strengthen national capacities to prevent and control avian and human influenza.
Professional Opportunity
Disease Surveillance Consultant SPINAP
On behalf of its avian influenza programme SPINAP-AHI, AU/IBAR seeks the services of a disease surveillance specialist to develop epidemio-surveillance systems for HPAI and other infectious diseases in support of African countries with lacking or weak disease surveillance systems. The main focus will be on veterinary epidemio-surveillance with some integration of human health services.
LEVEL: P-level equivalent
TYPE: Short-term freelance contract for 40 consultancy days
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Extended to 13 April 2009
DATE OF ISSUANCE: 13 February 2009
DUTY STATION: Nairobi/Kenya with travel on the continent
ELIGIBILTY: No restriction in terms of nationality
Responsibilities
The consultant will be supervised by the programme coordinator SPINAP, additional guidance provided by the animal health unit AU/IBAR.
The consultant will handle the following tasks:
- Conduct participatory rapid assessments of the disease surveillance situation in consultation with key stakeholders to identify and prioritise gaps utilising existing INAP documents or previous assessments such as PVS
- Using epidemio-surveillance and disease intelligence knowledge to design a sound veterinary epidemio-surveillance system for HPAI and other infectious diseases taking the identified gaps into account. The design includes disease reporting forms, system integration, analytical frameworks and capacity building
- Pre-testing the developed system in the field and fine-tune
- Sensitize and train system users and establish a platform for disease surveillance stakeholders
- Launching the system to the stakeholders
- Develop a monitoring tool to measure system performance in the short and medium term
- Recommend longer-term capacity building and investment in epidemio-surveillance
- Comprehensive consultancy report and recommendations for further support
- First degree in veterinary science from a recognized university
- Postgraduate qualification (at least MSc level) in veterinary epidemiology, veterinary public health or related specialization
- Ten years hands-on experience in infectious disease prevention and control in Africa
- Hands-on experience in the design of disease surveillance systems
- Demonstrated experience in the control and prevention of infectious animal diseases, particularly in disease emergency preparedness planning and crisis management
- Experience with avian influenza
- Experience with paravets/community animal health workers an advantage
- Fluency in either English or French — As successful candidates will be deployed to the respective language countries: for Anglophone consultants excellent command of written and spoken English; for Francophone consultants excellent command of written and spoken French plus sufficient knowledge of English
- Extensive knowledge of avian diseases
- Thorough understanding of the global strategies against HPAI and highly conversant with the evolving strategic focus
- Participatory skills – PRA and participatory epidemiology skills an advantage
- Conceptually clear writing style
- Advanced knowledge of the MS-Office package
- Facilitation skills essential
- Professionalism – commitment to professional ethics and excellence
- Communication – ability to write and speak clearly
- Disease surveillance systems – demonstrated broad expertise
- Planning and organizing – ability to plan own work and field trips, organize work shops and handle complex discussions
- Technological awareness – computer literate with analytical capabilities, especially of disease data
For more information on AU/IBAR, SPINAP-AHI and the position visit www.au-ibar.org
Submit your CV including three references and a motivation letter to the director at applications@au-ibar.org clearly indicating in the subject line the position you are applying for. Certified copies of relevant qualifications will be requested at a later stage. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. AU/IBAR is an equal opportunity employer.
