Call for Experts to Serve on Africa Union’s Expert Meeting on Animal Health, Welfare and Veterinary Public Health

Background

The Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC). AU-IBAR’s mandate is to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. One of the mandates of AU-IBAR is to contribute to the development of relevant standards and regulations and enhance compliance by African Union Member States. Through the Standards and Trade Secretariat for Animal Health and Food Safety, AU-IBAR coordinates Regional Economic Communities and African Union Member States to effectively participate in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the work of the WTO SPS Committee.

The OIE has four specialist commissions namely:

1. The Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission ("Code Commission")
2. The Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases ("Scientific Commission")
3. The Biological Standards Commission ("Laboratories Commission")
4. Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (Aquatic Animals Commission)

These Specialist Commissions develop animal health, welfare and veterinary public health standards which form the basis for international trade in animals and animal products. Participation of African countries in the standard setting process of OIE promote better integration of Africa’s priority animal health, welfare and veterinary public health issues into OIE standards. And further facilitate acceptance and application of OIE standards at the national level.

In support of enhancing the quality of Africa’s participation in the standard setting process of OIE, AU-IBAR coordinates a consultative process with RECs and Member States to develop African Positions (African Voice) on draft OIE standards that are of interest to Africa. The consultative process involves review of draft OIE standards by Animal Health Expert Meetings and Consultations with Chief Veterinary Officers of AU member states.

The objective of this “Call” is to develop an expert roster of qualified African scientists willing to serve as African Union experts on animal health, welfare and veterinary public issues. Applicants must be citizens of an African country and must have demonstrated high level of expertise and experience within the relevant subject matter(s) listed below.

Terms of Reference of The Expert Meeting on Animal Health, Welfare and Veterinary Public Health

1. Study problems of epidemiology and the prevention and control of animal diseases to enable the review of draft OIE standards,
2. Review relevant literature and prepare background papers in advance of expert meetings,
3. Based on Africa’s animal production system, trade needs and interest and section (i) above, develop African Positions on draft OIE standards on animal health, animal welfare, veterinary public health and methods for diagnosis of animal diseases,
4. Undertake studies or assessment or trainings to promote standardization and trade in the animal resources sector,
5. Participate in international, continental, regional or national fora to share knowledge and expertise in the field of animal health, animal welfare and veterinary public health,
6. Through AU-IBAR, make recommendations or provide advice to member states on scientific and technical issues for the development of Africa’s animal resources sector.

The expert meetings are organized into the following three Groups:

Terrestrial Animal Health Group

(Reviews and formulate expert opinion on draft OIE standards and related issues on diseases of terrestrial animals, methods used to control these diseases, protection of international trade and surveillance methods for terrestrial animal diseases and zoonoses. Assists in identifying the most appropriate strategies and measures for disease prevention and control).

Aquatic Animal Health Group

(Reviews and formulate expert opinion on draft OIE standards and related issues on diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans and on methods used to control these diseases)

Laboratories Group

(Reviews and formulate expert opinion on draft OIE methods for diagnosing diseases of mammals, birds and bees and for providing expert opinions biological products)

Qualified African Experts will be selected from the roster for each meeting depending on the expertise required, and will be requested to review draft OIE standards and related texts and prepare background papers in advance of the meeting. Expert meetings are conducted in English and participation in the meeting is required for the whole duration, usually three or four days. The cost of participation of experts is covered by AU-IBAR.

Essential Qualifications

AU-IBAR places great value on the technical qualification and independence of the participating experts as well as to the transparency of its selection process. In this regard, candidates will be selected based on the principles of competence, knowledge, excellence, transparency and independence of opinions. Experts are expected to have a high level of expertise and experience within their scientific area being applied for.

Successful candidates should meet the following essential qualifications:

1. Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine or epidemiology and an advanced university degree in any specialization in animal health, animal welfare, veterinary public health, animal production, trade, agricultural economics or other relevant fields;
2. Scientific publications in international peer reviewed journals or proven experience in delivering scientific Opinions on animal health, animal welfare or veterinary public health, and/or risk assessments at national, regional or international level;
3. Experience in the workings of the World Organization for Animal Health OIE,
4. Experience in animal disease control and prevention,
5. Leadership or invited participation in national or international scientific bodies, committees, etc. that are pertinent to the above disciplines and described tasks.

Criteria and Process for Selection of Experts

The criteria for the selection of experts are the basic and essential qualifications as well as demonstrated competence and expertise in the various areas outlined above. The curriculum vitae of the applicants will be reviewed on the basis of the criteria listed above by an independent selection panel. The purpose of the panel review is to determine whether the applicants meet the essential requirements. Successful applicants will be engaged by AU-IBAR on the basis of the ToR in this “Call”.

Appointment of Experts

Qualified experts will be selected from the roster for each meeting. In selecting experts for a particular expert meeting, consideration will be given, in addition to scientific and technical excellence, diversity and complementarities of scientific backgrounds, representation from all geographic regions of Africa as well as gender. Meetings are conducted in English and participation in the meeting is required for the whole duration, usually three days. AU through AU-IBAR will cover the cost of participation in expert meetings.

Experts will be selected in their individual capacity on the basis of their expert knowledge to give opinions and advice on specific animal health, welfare and veterinary public health issues. This means that successful experts will serve as independent experts, hence their views will not reflect the position of their employer. Experts selected to participate in expert meeting will be required to sign declaration of interest. Appointments to the roster will be for a period of 5 years.

Updating of Roster

Qualified experts will remain on the roster for a period of five years. After that time they will be removed from the roster and will need to reapply again if they want to be considered for inclusion on the roster for another term.

All experts who are already serving on any of the AU-IBAR expert committees should reapply.

The roster will be updated on an annual basis. If at any point during their term, an expert wants to step down from the roster, they should write to the Director of AU-IBAR and they will be removed during the next revision.

Application

Interested African experts and scientists are invited to submit their curriculum vitae in Calibri (Body), font 12 format and in the following specific order:

1. Personal information
2. Area of Interest applied for as per the three groups. Applicants should express interest in only one Group (Terrestrial Animal Health Group or Aquatic Animal Health Group or Laboratories Group).
3. Summary of competence (not more than ½ page)
4. Description of education and training
5. Work experience beginning from the most current
6. Relevant Peer reviewed publications
7. Language proficiency
8. Additional information
9. Reference of two persons with knowledge of your professional qualifications.

All CVs must be submitted in English. All documents must be submitted in one zipped file.

How to apply:

The Expression of Interest must be submitted by email to: procurement@au-ibar.org within the subject: “Selection of african experts to serve on african union expert meeting on animal health”.
Submission deadline is 24 June 2020 at 17:00 Hrs Nairobi Time. Kindly copy the email to the following: khalid.seid@au-ibar.org