Programme Officer (Animal Health)

About the role

The Programme Officer (Animal Health) will be based in FAO’s Representation in Lilongwe, Malawi, supporting the implementation of the "Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response through the One Health Approach in Malawi" (SP3ROHAM) project. The role contributes to FAO’s Country Programming Framework priority of improved resilience and emergency preparedness, focusing on animal health and livestock initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate the design, planning and execution of animal health and livestock components of the Pandemic Fund project.
• Provide technical support for surveillance, early‑warning systems, and laboratory capacity strengthening.
• Facilitate capacity‑development activities for national institutions and personnel involved in One Health emergencies.
• Collaborate with FAO technical teams, national partners (DAHLD, PHIM, DNPW) and international agencies (World Bank, WHO, UNICEF).
• Report progress to the FAO Representative, Assistant FAOR (Programme) and senior technical officers in the sub‑regional and regional offices.

Required profile

• Relevant university degree in animal health, veterinary science, livestock production or a related field.
• Experience working on animal health programmes, preferably within international development or UN contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi‑partner environments and coordinate technical activities.
• Strong communication skills in English; knowledge of local languages is an asset.

Required skills

• Understanding of One Health approaches and pandemic preparedness frameworks.
• Familiarity with animal disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics and capacity‑building methods.
• Ability to produce technical reports and documentation for donors and stakeholders.