Project Expert

Job Posting: 15/Apr/2025

Closure Date: 29/Apr/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: FRSAF - FAO Representation in South Africa Job Field Category:
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: South Africa-Pretoria

Duration: 11 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 culture.
- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
- Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
- FAO, 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
- FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations._

**Organizational Setting**

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. With presently 194 member states, and working in more than 130 countries worldwide, including South Africa. FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The main of the FAO Country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes 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.
FAO Country Office activities include the design and implementation of country-specific field programs, liaison with local donors' representatives and active outreach activities related to FAO initiatives.

The FAO Country Office in South Africa is working with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development WHO and UNICEF in the approved second call on Pandemic Fund for South Africa in the project entitled “Building a Resilient Future: Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response in South Africa through a One Health Approach”. The project is led by the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. FAO, WHO and UNICEF are the Implementing Entities who are going to work with designated delivery partners in the project. The Project aims at strengthening national health systems to effectively respond to pandemics through improved surveillance, laboratory systems, and capacity building. It will focus on enhancing pandemic preparedness and will be implemented during 2025 to 2027.

The project is centered around three key areas of focus which are:

- Surveillance and Early Warning Systems: Development and enhancement of systems that can promptly detect potential
- pandemic threats.
- Laboratory Systems: Strengthening laboratory capacity to diagnose and respond to emerging pathogens effectively.
- Capacity Development: Building the skills and competencies of local institutions and personnel to better prepare for and manage one health emergencies

**Reporting Lines**

The appointed International/National Expert will assist in the project. Under the joint supervision of the FAO Representative in South Africa through the AFAOR Programmes and technical guidance of the, LTOs for the Southern Africa (SFS) and Headquarters and with the Task Team the Project Coordinator will play high-level advisory services the project team, guiding project strategies, facilitating alignment with existing pandemic responses in the region, and offering technical expertise in reviewing project reports from implementing partners.

**Technical Focus**

The Project Expert will also work in collaboration with relevant technical and operational colleagues within the FAO Representation and within the regional and global project teams. The incumbent will also work closely with technical backstopping of the ECTAD Country team Lead
The incumbent will play a pivotal role in the coordination of the implementation of the World Bank Funded project
Building a Resilient Future: Strengthening Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response through One Health Approach Pandemic (GCP /SAF/014/PAF) in South Africa.

**Tasks and responsibilities**

The Project Expert, through his/her work, will contribute to implementation of the project activities among which include: