Kenya: Invitation for Applications from Young African Scientists to Participate in The Second Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Global Research and Expertise

To Be Held in Nairobi, Kenya from 13^th– 15^th November 2019

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. Founded in 1951 to study the epidemiological situation and fight rinderpest in Africa, AU-IBAR’s mandate covers all aspects of animal resources, including livestock, fisheries and wildlife, across the entire African continent, but fills a unique and strategic niche by working at continental and regional levels, with the RECs being key partners.

In Africa, sheep and goats are an important source of livelihoods. They are mainly managed by women and youth. In most parts of Africa, the production, trade and marketing of sheep and goats is threatened by outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a highly devastating killer disease of sheep and goats that has been recorded in 34 Member States of the African Union. Globally, the disease affects more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

In 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) launched the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy (PPR-GCES) that aims to eradicate PPR by 2030. In Africa, AU-IBAR and partners developed and aligned the Pan-African Strategy for the control and eradication of PPR to the PPR-GCES. The PPR-GCES is being implemented through the PPR Global Eradication Programme (PPR GEP) coordinated at the global level by the Joint FAO/OIE PPR Secretariat established in March 2016 while the Pan-African PPR programme is coordinated by AU-IBAR.

To assist and advise the Global PPR Secretariat, a Global PPR Advisory Committee was established in June 2017. In addition, the PPR Global Research and Expertise Network (PPR-GREN) was established as a forum for scientific and technical consultations to encourage and support PPR research activities that may contribute to better targeting and enhance the efficiency of interventions for PPR eradication. The first meeting of PPR-GREN was held from 17 to 19 April 2018 in Vienna, Austria. Its goal is to promote and initiate an integrated, comprehensive research and expertise network that capitalizes upon synergies to eliminate the threat posed by small ruminant diseases with a special focus on PPR in order to improve the livelihoods, food security and health of people globally and protect biodiversity

The four thematic areas agreed for PPR-GREN work include:

• PPR Epidemiology including socio-economic factors and the livestock-wildlife interface,
• PPR diagnostics,
• PPR vaccine and delivery,
• Outreach, advocacy and communication in order to facilitate awareness raising, resource mobilization, and both local and national participation in PPR eradication programmes.

FAO, OIE and the GREN Bureau in collaboration with AU-IBAR and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) are organizing the second PPR-GREN meeting to be held from 13^th to 15^th November 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya

Meeting Objective and Expected Results

The second PPR-GREN meeting aims to foster discussions on "PPR epidemiology including socio-economic factors and the domestic / wildlife interface".

It is expected that the meeting will generate research ideas/topics for a better understanding of the PPR dynamics between sheep/goats and other animal species, including wildlife. The meeting participants will also be expected to suggest studies examining socio-economic factors that will support achievement of the objective of the global eradication of PPR by 2030.

Expected Participants

The meeting is expected to bring together 80 – 100 participants including representatives from the following institutions and organisations.

• Research institutions including the 3 PPR WRL (CIRAD from Montpellier, France; The Pirbright Institute from the United Kingdom and the Centre for Animal Health and Epidemiology, Qingdao, China) and many National Veterinary Research Institutes and Academic institutions in developing countries
• African Union institutions (AU-IBAR and AU-PANVAC),
• Wildlife Conservation Societies
• The Global Alliance for Veterinary Medicines (GALVMed),
• Regional epidemiology and laboratory networks,
• The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
• PPR experts,
• PPR vaccine producers,
• Resource partners,
• Joint FAO/IAEA Division. including the animal Production and Health laboratory (APHL)
• FAO and OIE Headquarters,
• PPR Advisory Committee Members
• The PPR-GREN Bureau
• The Global PPR Secretariat.

AU-IBAR Support for Young Scientists from African Union Member States to Participate in the 2^nd PPR-GREN Meeting

The African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) with funding from the African Union Commission, will provide financial support for ten (10) African Scientists to participate in the 2^nd PPR-GREN meeting. The support will include the provision of a return economy class airline ticket and a daily subsistence allowance to cover the duration of the meeting. AU-IBAR invites applications from candidates who meet the following criteria for consideration:

Citizenship

Must be a citizen of a Member State of the African Union

Age

Not more than 40 years

Education

Applicants must have at least a Masters degree in any field of Veterinary Science or socio-economics. A PhD will be an added advantage.

General Professional Experience

• At least five years of work experience in public and/or private sector animal health services delivery, veterinary vaccines production, research or teaching institutions at national and/or regional levels.
• A good understanding of the priority transboundary diseases of sheep and goats in the different regions of Africa.

Specific Professional Experience

• At least 3 years’ experience in teaching or research on the epidemiology, diagnosis, control, socio-economics or production of vaccines for livestock viral diseases. Specific experience with PPR will be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of the application of the key tools and OIE standards for the control and eradication of PPR in line with the PPR-GCES, the pan-African Strategy for its control and eradication, the OIE Terrestrial Code and the OIE Terrestrial Manual.
• Record of relevant research work and scientific publications in refereed journals

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Language Requirement

• Proficiency in any of the four official languages of the African Union with at least a working knowledge of English.

Gender Mainstreaming

The African Union Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the submission of application is 11^th October 2019, 17.00 hours, Nairobi Local Time.

Applications including detailed curriculum vitae (CV) should be submitted through email to: procurement@au-ibar.org with a copy to susan.nzau@au-ibar.org and khalid.seid@au-ibar.org