Epidemiologist Expert – PPR GEP (Kenya)

About the role

The FAO PPR GEP Secretariat in Rome is looking for an affiliate epidemiologist to support the Peste des Petits Ruminants Global Eradication Programme in Africa. The consultant reports to the FAO PPR GEP Secretariat and works under the supervision of the Chief One Health and Disease Control Group. The role focuses on technical support for the PPR control strategy and small ruminant production at regional and national levels, with a duration of 11 months with possible extension.

Key responsibilities

• Contribute to designing and implementing surveillance systems for the PPR GEP blueprint and the Pan African PPR eradication programme
• Design and implement vaccination and surveillance strategies, outbreak reporting templates and integrate them into the database
• Train staff on risk-based surveillance and vaccination techniques for PPR and other small ruminant diseases
• Use existing databases or build an app to collect, store and analyse epidemiological and vaccination data
• Analyse surveillance data to help map disease systems and support management of other small ruminant diseases
• Contribute to manuals, guidelines, SOPs, policy briefs and training materials
• Support the Pan African PPR Secretariat, organise events and report on programme implementation
• Liaise with FAO regional offices, partners and other units on disease intelligence, risk analysis, networks and preparedness, and support policy and advocacy work
• Help identify and appraise extra-budgetary and TCP projects, and carry out other duties

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in epidemiology, vaccinology, emergency disease management or a related field in transboundary animal diseases; bachelor's degree holders need two additional years of relevant experience
• At least five years of relevant experience in PPR or other transboundary disease prevention and control
• Working knowledge of English and French
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and postgraduate studies in epidemiology are desirable

Required skills

• Experience in animal health, disease management and epidemiology
• Familiarity with epidemiological database analysis
• Work experience in more than one location or area
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an added value