WILDLIFE EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Wildlife Epidemiologist

Job Posting: 25/Mar/2025

Closure Date: 08/Apr/2025, 11:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: FRRWA - FAO Representation in Rwanda

Job Type : Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Rwanda-Kigali

Duration: 12 months

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and cultureQualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to applyEveryone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's valuesFAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checksAll applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, program, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The position is located at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Head Offices, Kigali, Rwanda.

FAO Rwanda is the Implementing Entity for the Pandemic Fund project “Strengthening Pandemic, Prevention, Preparedness & Response Through One Health Approach in Rwanda” in collaboration with RDB as a Delivery Partner (DP) for wildlife related activities.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB in collaboration with the ECTAD Country Team Leader at FAO, the incumbent will support wildlife disease surveillance, reporting, and response in Rwanda.

Technical Focus

Monitoring, analysing, and mitigating disease risks affecting wildlife populations, with a strong emphasis on zoonotic diseases and their implications for public and livestock health, with special focus on development of standard operating procedures (SOPS) , guidelines for wildlife disease surveillance, and national wildlife disease surveillance strategy, establishment of wildlife disease surveillance system in selected national parks, monitoring of priority zoonotic diseases of wildlife origin. The incumbent will work collaboratively with other health sectors of the National One Health Platform, including human health, livestock health, and environmental health, under a One Health approach to enhance disease surveillance, early detection, and response to emerging health threats.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB, the incumbent will deliver the following specific tasks:

Develop and implement wildlife disease surveillance protocols, guidelines and SOPs for early detection and monitoring of zoonotic and emerging diseasesConduct field investigations to assess disease outbreaks, collect, analyse and report epidemiological data, and identify transmission pathways.Utilize modelling and risk assessment tools to predict disease spread and assess the potential impact on wildlife, domestic animals, and humansMaintain a wildlife disease database and contribute to national and regional disease reporting systems.Develop and deliver training programs for wildlife rangers, veterinarians, and health professionals on disease detection, biosafety, and response measures.Lead and participate in rapid response teams for wildlife disease outbreaks, ensuring timely collection of field samples and epidemiological data.Develop and implement biosecurity measures to minimize disease spillover between wildlife, livestock, and human populations.Provide technical support for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease cases in collaboration with veterinary laboratories.Support the development of wildlife health policies and strategies aligned with international standards.Work closely with animal and human health sectors to strengthen integrated disease surveillance and response efforts.Prepare technical reports, research articles, and presentations for internal and external audiences.Train and mentor field veterinarians, and other staff on basic epidemiology, data collection, and biosafety protocols.Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to the…