Livestock & Participatory Surveillance Specialist

Position: Livestock & Participatory Surveillance Specialist

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda or Chiang Mai, Thailand

Accountable to: Regional Lead

Program title: USAID Strategies to Prevent (STOP) Spillover

Contract type: Fixed term

Duration: This is a full-time position, renewed yearly for the duration of the STOP Spillover project based on performance evaluation, and availability of funds.

Project description:

The USAID STOP Spillover program provides a critical opportunity to enhance global understanding of the complex drivers of viral spillover and to augment sustainable national capacities in surveillance, risk analysis, and behavior change. The project supports up to ten prioritized countries across Africa and Asia to gain critical knowledge about their spillover ecosystems and to refine and use that knowledge effectively, efficiently, and sustainably to reduce the risk of zoonotic viral spillover and spread. This is a five-year project from October 2020 through September 2025.

STOP Spillover is a USAID-funded project to anticipate and address threats posed by the emerging zoonotic diseases that pose the greatest risk of jumping from animals to humans. Tufts University, together with an international consortium of nine core partners that include South East Asia One Health University network (SEAOHUN), Africa One Health University network (AFROHUN), and six core sub-award partners are working collaboratively utilizing diverse capabilities among consortium members and stakeholders to implement the STOP Spillover project in up to five countries in Africa and up to five countries in Asia over the next five years.

The consortium supports countries to build their capacity to assess, communicate and decrease risk of zoonotic viral spillover and spread of zoonotic diseases. The consortium works with USAID to develop and institutionalize innovative, country-specific, and sustainable approaches so that countries are well-prepared to stop zoonotic viral spillover from animals to humans and reduce amplification and spread of zoonotic viruses among humans. STOP Spillover focuses on strengthening national capacity in a number of targeted countries to 1) understand the factors that contribute to the risk of spillover of pathogens from wildlife to humans; 2) develop, assess, and implement early risk-reduction interventions that will reduce the spillover and spread of these threats; and, 3) recognize and respond rapidly to zoonotic spillover events.

STOP Spillover’s approach leverages global-level Resource Hubs, made up of consortium partner personnel and key short term technical advisors and consultants, to provide expertise, technical assistance, and support to each Country Team. The Country Teams are based in the respective One Health University Networks (OHUNs), either SEAOHUN or AFROHUN. The Country Team, composed of a full-time Country Team Lead and four full-time supporting members, will drive implementation of the project, ensuring that project activities are responsive and contextualized to the needs of each country. Country Team Leads and regional Veterinary and Livestock Officers are supervised by the respective Regional Lead based in their OHUN.

**
The position:**

This position is responsible for the programmatic, administrative and strategic management of selected STOP Spillover program activities at the global level, i.e. contributing to the formulation and implementation of activities, strategies and policies to achieve the objectives of STOP Spillover in each of the countries supported by the project. In particular, the position will be at the center of capacity building and implementation of participatory syndromic surveillance activities in the detection of spillover risk and the measurement of spillover risk reduction interventions. The participatory surveillance position will also contribute to the design of social and behavior change interventions especially where matters relating to community knowledge systems play a key role.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Contribute to the budgeting, design and implementation of participatory surveillance programs, social and behavior change interventions and community-based activities included in the project work plan
• Develop and implement participatory training programs in collaboration with a team of national and international project experts to meet the needs of the activities identified in the work plan
• Guide participatory surveillance teams to implement assessments of interest to the project
• Contribute to the integration of participatory syndromic surveillance within national surveillance structures

Qualifications and requirements:

• 10 years of work within the field of animal production and health, including poultry
• Advanced training in animal production, animal health or veterinary medicine to the level of an MSc or DVM (or equivalent)
• Knowledge of One Health concepts
• Training in biosafety and PPE use
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills including leading through influence across a range of stakeholders to achieve the defined outcomes/goals
• Demonstrated experience with participatory epidemiology or participatory methods in animal health, wildlife, or environmental issues Participatory Epidemiology Network for Animal and Public Health (PENAPH) certification and advantage but not required.
• Demonstrated experience in community-based projects or social and behavior change activities
• Demonstrated experience in the study of traditional knowledge systems as a foundation for interventions/community activities
• Demonstrated experience in the planning and implementation of participatory training workshops on participation or community-based activities
• Experience working in the field in Africa or Asia at the community level
• Ability to communicate in English (speaking, reading, writing)
• Ability to communicate in French an advantage (speaking, reading, writing)
• Training in wildlife or wildlife work experience is a plus

The Livestock & Participatory Surveillance Specialist is a key position for the STOP Spillover project, contributing to project activities across all STOP Spillover countries. Depending on the candidate selected, the position will be located at either AFROHUN Regional Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda, or SEAOHUN Secretariat in Chiang Mai, Thailand (the position will be employed through the respective OHUN). Remote working within the Africa or Asia region will be considered for exceptional candidates. Frequent travel will be required, where possible, within project target countries.

Disclaimers:

STOP Spillover does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, language, religion, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. This organization is committed to the recruitment of a diverse, inclusive workforce, and thus, women and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. The salary for this position will depend on qualifications and experience and in line with projects funds.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to send an application letter and a resume or curriculum vitae with names of 2 referees, by email (please reference “Livestock & Participatory Surveillance Specialist” as the subject of your email) to Gaia Bonini at [email protected]. Position will remain open until filled.

Apply Here: https://www.click2apply.net/r7Vp2Vf7RLaRQiNYPSzgJb

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