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 reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.ย
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 โStrengthening Pandemic, Prevention, Preparedness & Response Through One Health Approach in Rwandaโ 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 contribute to wildlife disease surveillance.
Technical Focusย
Designing and implementing statistical analyses to support wildlife health research, disease surveillance, and conservation initiatives using a One Health approach.
Tasks and responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB, the incumbent will deliver the following specific tasks:
โข ย ย Develop and implement statistical methodologies for analysing wildlife health and epidemiological data.
โข ย ย Design and manage databases for disease surveillance, ecological monitoring, and conservation research.
โข ย ย Ensure data integrity, quality control, and adherence to best practices in wildlife diseases data management.
โข ย ย Conduct statistical modelling and triangulation to assess wildlife disease prevalence, risk factors, and trends in wildlife populations.
โข ย ย Apply advanced biostatistical techniques, including spatial and temporal analysis, predictive modelling, and Bayesian inference.
โข ย ย Analyse data on zoonotic disease transmission between wildlife, livestock, and humans.
โข ย ย Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics for wildlife health monitoring.
โข ย ย Work closely with veterinarians, ecologists, epidemiologists, and public health professionals to support One Health initiatives.
โข ย ย Participate in joint health surveillance programs integrating wildlife, livestock, and human health data.
โข ย ย Contribute to interdisciplinary research on the impact of climate change, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss on disease emergence.
โข ย ย Assist in designing and conducting wildlife health studies, including outbreak investigations and ecological health assessments.
โข ย ย Train field veterinarians, park rangers, and researchers on data collection, statistical analysis, and surveillance techniques.
โข ย ย Develop tools and dashboards for real-time disease monitoring and early warning systems.
โข ย ย Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to the Head of Wildlife Veterinary Unit at RDB and ECTAD Country Team Leader at FAO Rwanda.
โข ย ย Performs any other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย Be the national of Rwanda
โข ย ย University degree (Bachelorโs degree) in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a related field.
โข ย ย At least five (5) years of professional experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
โข ย ย Working levels (Level C) of English
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
โข ย ย Experience in statistical aspects of health studies, designing and management of databases.
โข ย ย Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS, STATA, SAS), modelling triangulation and data visualization tools.
โข ย ย Experience in designing and implementing statistical models and triangulations for disease surveillance.
โข ย ย Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
โข ย ย Excellent communication and leadership skills.
โข ย ย Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FAO 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/ย ย For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ย ย Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.ย