Call for Expression Of Interest
Background
The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR is mandated to support and coordinate the sustainable development and utilization of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the people in the Member State of the AU. AU-IBAR accomplishes its mandate through supporting and empowering the African Union Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). AU-IBAR’s vision is of an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to the reduction of poverty and hunger. Initially founded in 1951 to study the epidemiological situation and fight rinderpest in Africa, AU-IBAR’s mandate now covers all aspects of animal resources across the entire African continent and fills a unique and strategic niche by working at continental and regional levels, with the RECs being key partners.
Animal diseases are among the main constraints that lower the performance of the livestock sector in Africa. By reducing the productivity of livestock, diseases significantly lower the quantity and quality of animal products and consequently erode household nutrition, income and food security. In this regard, diseases also contribute to increased vulnerability and weakened resilience of livestock-dependent communities to natural disasters.
AU-IBAR is currently implementing the Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) project with financial support from the European Union (EU). In November 2019, AU-IBAR convened a regional workshop in Dakar Senegal for the ECOWAS and ECCAS regions under the Live2Africa project to identify key gaps and develop road maps for strengthening animal health delivery services at national and Regional levels with particular attention to the gaps and opportunities identified through the OIE PVS pathway processes. The workshop also examined key actions for improving the control/eradication of priority transboundary animal diseases (TADs).
Among the key gaps identified by the participants at the workshop was the lack of animal disease emergency preparedness plans in general and contingency plans for some priority diseases. In order to address this gap, and realizing that it is a common short coming in many AU Member States, AU-IBAR seeks the services of a Consultant animal health expert with experience in the management of animal disease emergencies to provide technical support to AU-IBAR, RECs and AU Member States to develop appropriate animal disease emergency preparedness plans and contingency plans for some priority diseases.
Overall Objective
The overall objective is to improve the capacities and competencies of AU Member states for animal disease emergency planning and response.
Specific Objective
The specific objective is to provide technical support to AU member states to develop draft animal disease emergency preparedness plans and contingency plans for some priority diseases.
Tasks
- Develop a template for the preparation of draft national and regional animal disease emergency preparedness plans
- Develop a template for the preparation of draft Contingency Plans for priority TADs.
- Participate in a four day virtual write-shop for Member States and the RECs to draft animal emergency prepared plans and contingency plans for selected diseases.
- Provide guidance to technical personnel from the Member States to complete the templates during the write-shop
- Provide follow-up technical support for completion of the draft Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Plans
Expected Outputs and Deliverables
The following are the expected outputs:
- An inception report including the methodology and the work plan to undertake the tasks
- A template for the preparation of national and regional animal disease emergency preparedness plans
- A template for the preparation of national and regional contingency plans for some priority TADs
- Draft national animal disease emergency preparedness plans for some participating Member States
- Draft national contingency plans for selected priority TADs for some participating Member States
- A detailed technical report on the four day write-shop.
- A final report on the assignment
Qualifications
The candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine. A Masters or PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology will be an added advantage.
General Professional Experience
- At least 10 years of proven experience in public sector animal disease control at national and/or Regional levels in Africa.
- A good understanding of the priority transboundary animal diseases in the different regions of Africa
- Knowledge and experience in Emergency preparedness planning and contingency planning for animal diseases.
Specific Professional Experience
- A good understanding of livestock diseases surveillance and control in Africa.
- Conversant with international animal health standards related to surveillance, prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs)
- Proven experience in facilitating the design and implementation of animal disease emergency plans and contingency plans for TADs and Zoonoses.
- Experience in organising and facilitating stakeholder consultations and preparation of reports/ proceedings.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan own work and to work independently, with minimum supervision, to high professional standards
- Knowledge and experience of using participatory approaches
Language Requirement
- Proficiency in English or French. A working knowledge of Arabic or Portuguese will be an added advantage.
Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Duty Stations
The consultant will be stationed in his/her own country with the process involving a virtual collaborative process with countries. Exceptional travel on specific assignments will be agreed with the AU-IBAR Management.
Duration
The duration of this assignment is 30 days. The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment with minimum delay.
Remuneration
The remuneration for this Consultancy is a fixed amount of USD 9,000. Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.
Evaluation Criteria
The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates and a Financial Bid/proposal.
How to apply:
Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of proposals is 16th July 2020, 17.00 hours, Nairobi Local Time.
The address for submission of applications is:
Applications including adetailed curriculum vitae (CV) should be submitted through email to: procurement@au-ibar.org within the subject ‘Consultancy to Support the Development of Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness and Contingency plans in African Union Member States’.