Consultant - Engagement of Veterinary Officer in States with inadequate Human Resources at Federal Government of Nigeria

Reference No: IDA 5970-NG
Location: Nigeria
Project: Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement Project (REDISSE)
Duration: Initial period of 12 calender months

Project Background/Objective

• The Federal Republic of Nigeria has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement Project (Phase II), and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contracts for Engagement of Animal Health Officers as ad-hoc staff in states with inadequate human resources.
• The REDISSE Project was initiated by the World Bank to cover all countries in the ECO WAS sub-region as a consequence of the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola crisis. The Project is cross-sectoral, with both human health and animal health sectors implementation. The project promotes regional collaboration among EOWAS countries, in order to ensure that gaps in disease detection and outbreak response across the West African sub-region are effectively addressed. Successful implementation of the project is envisaged to minimize the health and economic consequences of major disease outbreaks. The REDISSE Project was formally launched in Nigeria on the 27th of April 2018.
• The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to strengthen cross-sectoral and National capacity for collaborative disease surveillance and response in Nigeria. it seeks to address systemic weaknesses within the animal and human health systems that hinder effective disease surveillance.
• Disease surveillance, containment and response to unexpected disease events require skilful work force that can be mobilized within a short time, preferably within 24 hours. However, there is an acute shortage of public animal health work force in some States in Nigeria, due to prolonged embargo on employment in these States. The situation is worst in 12 States (Bayelsa, Benue, Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Rivers) that have less than 10 qualified registered veterinarians in the State Public Service. This scenario may make the implementation of Project’s activities in such States ineffective. Therefore, there is the need to engage ad-hoc veterinarians and deploy them to such States to bridge the gap, preparatory for them to transform into private animal health services providers in these States after the projects term.

The Project comprised of five components:

• Component 1: Surveillance and Information System
• Component 2: Strengthening Laboratory Capacity
• Component 3: Preparedness and Emergency Response
• Component 4: Human Resource Management for Effective Disease Surveillance and epidemic preparedness
• Component 5: Institution Capacity Building, Project Management, Coordination and Advocacy

Scope of Assignment
The Scope of Work for the position is but not limited to the under-listed services to be performed:

• Ready to work in any State of the Federation, under the supervision of the State Director of Veterinary Services (DVS)
• Carry out day-to-day field epidemiological activities as assigned by superior officers.
• Participate in animal disease surveillance and veterinary public health activities in the State.
• Provide technical supports and supervision for the animal disease surveillance agents in the States
• Attend technical meetings as may be assigned by superiors.
• Participate in the implementation of the REDISSE Project activities in the State
• Carry out other activities as may be assigned by the superiors from time to time.
• Prepare monthly report of activities to the DVS in the State and REDISSE Animal Health Sector Coordinator(AHSC).

Qualifications and Experience

• He/she must have a basic qualification of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and registered with Veterinary Council of Nigeria.
• The successful candidate to be employed must show basic proficiency to provide veterinary services, disease surveillance, and disease outbreak investigation, prompt response to disease events, animal handling and writing of reports,
• Computer literate and experience of working in a veterinary/animal health service establishment will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 2 Years Post DVM Qualification.