Job Description

2601973

National PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants) Specialist

Job Posting

: 18/Sep/2026

Closure Date

: 09/Oct/2026, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: SAP - Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands

Job Type

: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location

: Home-Based

Duration: 50 days (WAE for 10 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 deviceFAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.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

Organizational SettingThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' (FAO) Sub-regional Office for the Pacific (SAP) is a subsidiary of FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok. FAO SAP is directly mandated and responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and directly implementing strategies with Pacific member countries to address sub-regional agriculture, food, nutrition and rural development priorities. FAO SAP covers 14 member countries in the Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.This position falls under the livestock component of the Better Production Module of FAO SAP and supports implementation of Technical Cooperation Programmes (TCPs) in the livestock and animal health portfolio, including:

• TCP/SAP/4104: Strengthening Capacity for PPR Freedom in Pacific Island Countries

The National PPR Specialist will support the effective implementation of this TCP.

Reporting LinesThe National PPR Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands and the direct supervision of the Livestock and Animal Health Officer. The incumbent will undertake the duties below under TCP/SAP/4104.

Technical FocusProvide technical and operational support for the effective implementation of TCP/SAP/4104, focused on strengthening national capacity for PPR surveillance, control, and progress toward WOAH-recognized PPR-free status, in coordination with the FAO SAP Livestock and Animal Health Officer and the project's International PPR Expert.

Tasks and responsibilities• Conduct a desk review and situation analysis of the country's small ruminant population, movement patterns, and existing animal health surveillance and reporting systems relevant to PPR.

• Contribute to organizing as well as attending the regional Capacity Building Training on Surveillance and PPR Disease Control Strategies.
• Assist FAO officers or consultants in providing technical support and inputs to the Ministry responsible for animal health to review and strengthen existing PPR surveillance and reporting arrangements, including community-based surveillance approaches, and support improvements in the flow and timely sharing of surveillance information from the field level to the national level.
• Support the collection of blood samples for laboratory testing where relevant to national surveillance activities and liaise with regional reference laboratories on sample submission and results.
• Support the delivery of training for farmers and livestock/veterinary staff on PPR and small ruminant biosecurity through in-country training of trainers.
• Assist FAO Officers or Consultants in providing technical inputs and support for the development and dissemination of PPR awareness, advocacy, and communication materials, and support FAO and the relevant national authorities in organizing and delivering at least one PPR awareness and sensitization activity for small-ruminant value-chain actors.
• Provide technical support on strengthening key prerequisites relevant to the eventual WOAH recognition of PPR-free status, including traceability, surveillance evidence, diagnostic preparedness, and contingency planning, while supporting the Ministry and FAO with technical inputs that may inform future national documentation and dossier preparation.
• Support FAO Officers or Consultants in maintaining regular technical communication with the FAO SAP Livestock and Animal Health Officer and the Project’s International PPR Expert; provide technical updates on assigned activities; and participate in FAO-led project coordination, monitoring, and reporting processes, as required.
• Prepare progress updates, and a final consultancy report documenting activities undertaken, findings, and recommendations for the country of assignment.
• Perform other related technical duties as may be reasonably requested by FAO within the scope of the assignment. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements
• University degree in agriculture, livestock production, animal science or a related field.
• One year of relevant experience in animal health, veterinary services, livestock production, or disease surveillance, preferably within the Pacific region.
• Working knowledge of English
• National of any of the respective five countries (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Cook Islands) or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies• Results Focus

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process. HOW TO APPLY• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/cspFAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT