One Health Specialist

1. Brief Overview of VSF Germany

VSF Germany is an International Non-Governmental Organization, providing humanitarian assistance and development aid to agro-pastoral and pastoralists and vulnerable communities in areas where livestock is of importance. In the Horn of Africa region, VSF Germany implements programmes in South Sudan, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia since 1998. Effective from January 2019, VSF Germany has expanded its programme scope to Uganda. VSF Germany programmes focus on Food Livelihoods, and Nutrition Security, Natural Resources Management, Peacebuilding, Water and Sanitation, Protection and Response to Disasters and Emergencies; and One Health. Each country program is managed through the country offices and country teams. Country programmes are coordinated and facilitated from the Regional Office Nairobi (RON). The organization is a registered charity in Germany with its headquarters in Berlin

1. Brief Overview of the Project

VSF Germany is a member of the ILRI led Consortium that has received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to establish One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre for Africa (OHRECA). The goal of the project is to improve the health of humans, animals and ecosystems through capacity building, strengthening of local, regional and global networks and provision of evidence-based policy advice on One Health in sub-Saharan Africa. The center’s four thematic areas are: control of neglected tropical zoonotic diseases, emerging infectious diseases, food safety and informal markets, and prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance. VSF Germany as partner to ILRI will support the OHRECA project by implementing the project titled “One Health Regional Project to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) and Address Food Safety in Uganda and Kenya for a period of 4 years.

1. Purpose of the Position

VSF Germany has in the last five years promoted One Health Approach in its programming through a strategy of integrated collaborative, multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary One Health projects in the countries of operation through multi-stakeholder partnerships and engagements. The OHRECA project offers VSF Germany an opportunity to reinforce and further expand the scope of the organization’s work on zoonotic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and food safety to a regional scale. It is against this background that VSF Germany seeks to recruit a qualified One Health Specialist to steer the implementation of the OHRECA project covering Kenya and Uganda and to support the realization of One Health Approach as a key thematic area of intervention in the organization.

1. Reporting Lines and Collaboration

The One Health Specialist shall be the VSF Germany OHRECA Project Manager, working under the direct technical supervision of the Regional Head of Programs, and in close collaboration and cooperation with the Country Director for Kenya, the Technical Project Manager for Uganda and other project team members at the countries and at the regional office; other implementing partners/ stakeholders, contracted consultants and associates including the respective country line ministries at the national and sub-regional levels, professional associations, value chain actors and PhD and Msc fellows associated with the OHRECA project implementation in the countries.

1. Key Tasks and Responsibilities

The One Health Specialist shall be required to perform a wide range of generic tasks specific to the OHRECA Project management. Detailed specific OHRECA Component tasks shall be elaborated in the Job Description. Generic tasks and responsibilities shall include:

• Provide overall OHRECA project team leadership and prudent project management functions to ensure effective delivery on the project goals and objectives.
• Develop and execute, in collaboration with respective country teams and contracted service providers comprehensive project work plans in line with approved project budgets,
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of planned project activities in collaboration with the country project teams, contracted consultants and other project stakeholders,
• In collaboration with the country teams and contracted service providers, prepare quality and timely project technical reports for submission to the donor, including preparation of briefing notes, success stories, posters and articles and blogs on One Health,
• Provide expert guidance on One Health related approaches and implementation modalities in line with VSF Germany One Health strategies and OHRECA project objectives,
• Promote multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary collaboration and coordination in the delivery of the OHRECA project through Multi-stakeholder platforms and other coordination mechanisms existing in the countries
• Support baseline surveys, studies, assessments on various OHRECA project components and establish data bases for the project beneficiaries,
• Perform epidemiological analysis, risk assessment and forecast of health threats requiring One Health interventions;
• Prepare, organize, participate in and provide technical support, as facilitator, trainer and/or evaluator, at the national and multi-country events such as technical meetings, workshops and simulation exercises in liaison with the key stakeholders at the involved countries,
• Contribute to strengthening national and regional capacities to efficiently operationalizing One Health through training needs assessments, curriculum development training purposes,
• Perform other related duties as required,

1. Essential Requirements

• Bachelors Degree in veterinary medicine with advanced post graduate qualification in Epidemiology, Public Health (with bias on Veterinary Public Health, AMR) and or any other discipline relevant to the management of One Health Programmes,
• One Health experience working in the national and private veterinary services or international organizations implementing One Health programmes is preferable.
• At least 7 years’ experience in working on OH related matters with multi-disciplinary teams from animal, human and environmental sectors.
• Strong capability to liaise with multiple stakeholders in integrated One Health projects
• Strong familiarity with statistics, bio-statistics and or other relevant quantitative methods for conducting disease risk assessemnt and reporting.
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Team player, self-motivated, ability to work under minimum supervision
• Ability to prioritize, problem-solve and meet agreed deadlines
• Understanding of capacity development and adult-learning principles,
• Experience in mobile learning and creation of online learning and sharing platforms,
• Ability to multi task under tight deadlines,
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Application Packages relevant to the needs of the project.

1. Other Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to use quantitative and qualitative data collection and analytical techniques.
• Creative self-driven individual with ability to work independently as an integral part of a team,
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through informal and formal training.
• Demonstrated ability in the use of quantitative and qualitative methods including questionnaire design, survey techniques and participatory approaches.
• Good organizational and time management skills.

1. Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on requirements, competencies and skills outlined above. Shortlisting of candidates will be done on a rolling basis. VSF Germany is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.