Position Title:

National Expert on FMD free zone

Organizational Unit:

FAO MONGOLIA

Location:

Ulaanbaatar (with field travels)

Duration:

11 months

Probation period  3 months

Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Background information

The World Bank financed the Livestock Commercialization Project (LCP) aims to support the Government of Mongolia to achieve its livestock sector development plan by implementing a project with the aim “to improve livestock productivity and commercialization of targeted value chains in project locations and by so doing to improve rural livelihoods and food security in the selected aimags and soums through investments in animal health, enhanced productivity and quality assured value chains to provide improved domestic and export market access with better food safety”.

In the field of strengthening animal health services and improving food safety, institutionalization of risk assessment at soum, aimag and central level is key to informed decision making on animal disease surveillance and control.

Description of tasks and objectives to be achieved

The FAO is the Technical Service Agency for this project and supports the implementation of this project. 

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative, Mongolia, close collaboration with LCP PIU coordinator, technical supervision of the FAO Project Task Force (PTF) and a Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in full collaboration with the Chief Technical Adviser and other project national personnel/consultants and counterparts, the candidate will undertake the following duties:

1)    Convert the FMD-free zone program document into a detailed work plan:

a)     Develop a workplan based on the current program proposal including progress indicators;

b)    Provide a detailed budget for all program activities;

c)     Relate to the stakeholders and beneficiaries involved with the aim to have their full long-term support and cooperation;

2)    Safeguard the timely and complete application for the FMD-free zone with the OIE;

a)     Manage the process to timely submit the application for a FMD-free zone (FMD-Dossier) to the OIE in June 2021 through the OIE-delegate at GAVS;

b)    Act immediately on any follow-up questions from OIE regarding the FMD-free zone application

3)    Implement the FMD-free zone program through:

a)     Acting as secretary of the FMD-Task force established by order of the CVO;

b)    Reviewing the current strategy for FMD prevention and control, taking account of recommendations from previous assessments (PVS, JEE, EMT) and the FMD-strategy developed in 2019;

c)     Defining roles and responsibilities regarding the FMD-free zone for GAVS and GASI;

d)    Reviewing and suggesting revisions to current veterinary and animal health policy and legislation to allow for the creation of a disease-free zone and compartments

e)     Organizing capacity building for GAVS and other relevant stakeholders in project-management and results-based management (monitoring and evaluation);

f)     Conducting training for private veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals on early detection, notification and outbreak investigation FMD and other priority animal diseases;

g)    Safeguarding functional Public-Private Partnerships for the creation and maintenance of the FMD-free zone;

h)    Establishing a surveillance system (combination of passive and active surveillance components) to provide continuous, complete and accurate evidence of absence of FMD virus circulation in the zone;

i)      Safeguarding that FMD-suspect notifications are investigated instantly, accurately and completely with timely diagnostic results on the cause of the notified disease;

j)      Implementing a communication strategy to have raised awareness with herders, traders and other livestock-service providers on FMD and other TADs;

k)    Organizing regular simulation exercises (desk-top, workshop, field-based) to practise, evaluate and improve current FMD Preparedness and Contingency plans for veterinary professionals (private and public), NEMA and GASI staff;

l)      Integrating the aspects of international harmonization, veterinary certifications in line with international standards, equivalence and transparency;

m)  Elaborating and conducting relevant research studies: cost-effectiveness of the FMD-free zone, effectiveness of surveillance approaches, modelling scenarios for maintaining FMD-free zone in West Mongolia. 

Qualifications/Requirements

n)    University degree in veterinary medicine;

• o)    At least eight years experience in managing projects or an organization;

p)    Good understanding of animal health sector in Mongolia;

q)    Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of people, including technical staff, government counterpart, private veterinarians, pasture user groups and herders;

r)     Excellent command in English and Mongolian including ability to write clearly and concisely in English on technical level;

s)     Able to work as part of a multinational team.

HOW TO APPLY

If you possess the above qualifications, please send your application letter along with FAO Personal Profile Form (PPF), diploma and related certificate copies and reference letters (min 2) to the following email addresses:  [email protected] and [email protected]

Instruction on how to fill in PPF can be given by contacting Ms. Tsolmon Chimeddorj at [email protected] or 9959 8639. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted..