Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Status Officer – Status Department – WOAH HQ Paris

Positioning and reporting

Under the authority of the Deputy Director General, International Standards and Science and the direct supervision of the Head of the Status Department, and in close cooperation with other officers in the Department. He/She collaborates with the GF-TADs Regional Coordinator and Regional Programmes Coordinator of the Regional Activities Department of WOAH.

Job purpose

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is funding the One Health for rabies and TADs (OHRT) project (2022-2026), implemented by WOAH. The Project supports PPR control and eradication strategies, including activities of the joint WOAH/FAO GF-TADs PPR Secretariat. Additionally, the Project is supporting WOAH Members in the ECCAS and SADC regions to build capacity for PPR eradication.

The PPR Status Officer contributes to supporting the WOAH team coordinating the PPR eradication strategy through the joint WOAH/FAO PPR Secretariat. He/She also supports the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases’ mission to ensure the delivery of high-quality and scientifically-based assessments of applications (and maintenance of) official PPR-free status recognition and control programmes endorsement, based on compliance with WOAH standards. He/She also supports the scientific excellence of the WOAH activities by contributing to the revision of these standards and to the continuous improvement of the procedure for official recognition of animal health status.

Missions and activities

Support the WOAH team related to the coordination of the PPR eradication strategy

• Represent the WOAH in the joint FAO/WOAH coordination body for the PPR eradication strategy (the “PPR Secretariat”)
• Coordinate and consult within WOAH to elaborate proposals for the follow-up of the PPR eradication strategy
• Participate in the proposal and follow up of annual workplans and annual reports;
• Contribute to the development and revision of concept notes related to the implementation of the workplans;
• Engage with other departments of the WOAH and key partners to participate in the development of PPR activities;
• Participate in the organisation of regular coordination mechanisms within WOAH HQ departments and regional/ subregional offices and within GF-TADs framework;
• Lead the organisation of regional road maps meetings and the follow up of progress and recommendations between meetings;
• Engage and support the organisation of specific technical activities and trainings related to PPR;
• Support the organisation and the reporting of PPR GREN and PPR AC meetings and follow up of recommendations between meetings;
• Support the organisation and participate in any other PPR related meetings as appropriate;
• Prepare presentations, reporting and institutional communication related to PPR and report to donors;
• Support the implementation and review of PPR related activities conducted by the WOAH at regional and subregional level;
• Contribute to the development of an online platform and e-learning modules for the revised PPR Monitoring and Assessment Tool (PMAT2).
• Contribute to the development of any other tools, applications, awareness/e-learning material related to the PPR eradication strategy as appropriate.

Provide support to the work of the PPR ad hoc Group(s)

• Prepare background and working documents, in line with the TORs;
• Screen and process applications in accordance with the provisions of the Code, the Manual and applicable WOAH guidelines;
• Liaise internally with relevant departments to ensure compilation of cross-cutting relevant information;
• Provide Secretariat functions to the ad hoc Group meeting ensuring compliance with WOAH procedures;
• Prepare the report of the ad hoc Group meeting and any supporting document;

Contribute to the monitoring of the compliance of WOAH Members having obtained official animal health status or endorsement of control programme with requirements for the maintenance of their status

• Screen the annual reconfirmations received from Members in accordance with the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code), the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Manual) and the applicable WOAH guidelines;
• Communicate with the Members and the WOAH Regional Representations when relevant;
• Prepare a short report of screening for the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases’ consideration;
• Follow-up the result from the deliberations.

Contribute to the implementation and follow-up of the procedure for official recognition of animal health status

• Assist Members in the correct procedures for the preparation and submission of dossiers for the evaluation of official animal health status or national control programmes for specified diseases;
• Support the refinement and continuous improvement of the WOAH procedures for official animal health status recognition;
• Contribute to the international standards setting process, in particular to the harmonisation of the requirements for recognition of diseases status and the revision of standards related to these diseases.

Provide technical advice and support on the work of the Status Department

• Provide support to Members’ self-declaration of disease freedom (e.g., African swine fever, avian influenza) including technical and administrative screening of the applications in line with the procedure;
• Contribute to the preparation of responses to enquiries from Members and other stakeholders;
• Prepare relevant documents and undertake analysis as required.

In addition, the Head of Department may, when necessary, assign to the incumbent any other duties within his area of competence.