Consultancy Service: Anti-Microbial Resistance Specialist

Introduction

The African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) will be leading the implementation of the regional Project “Strengthening Integrated One Health Capacities for Enhanced Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the Lake Chad Basin” funded by the Pandemic fund. The SCOPE project will be implemented across five Lake Chad Basin (LCB) member states namely Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic (CAR) and Chad.  The afore-mentioned project overall goal is to strengthen cross-border capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through an integrated and inclusive One Health approach in the Lake Chad Basin. The SCOPE Project will be implemented through three result areas; Result Area 1: By 2029, Enhance capacity for cross-border One Health prevention, detection, notification and response for pandemics in the Lake Chad Basin; Result Area 2: By 2029, strengthen the cross-border governance and coordination mechanisms for inclusive and equitable One Health Systems; Result Area 3: By 2029, foster sustainable innovative financial flows, strategic partnerships and stewardship for PPR in the Lake Chad Basin. AU-IBAR will be working in close partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). 
The Lake Chad Basin remains vulnerable to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), transboundary animal diseases, climate-sensitive health threats, and public health emergencies Wildlife plays a critical role in the epidemiology of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and ecosystem health. Increasing interactions among wildlife, livestock, humans, and the environment, driven by climate change, land-use change, transhumance, and ecosystem degradation, heighten the risk of zoonotic disease emergence and cross-border transmission. The SCOPE Programme recognizes wildlife as a key component of the One Health approach and seeks to strengthen wildlife surveillance, ecosystem health monitoring, multisectoral coordination, and integration of wildlife health into regional surveillance and preparedness systems.
To support implementation of these activities, AU-IBAR seeks to recruit a One Health Wildlife Surveillance and Ecosystem Health Officer to provide technical leadership on wildlife health surveillance, ecosystem health, and wildlife integration within regional One Health initiatives.

Purpose of Job

The AMR specialist will provide technical leadership on antimicrobial resistance surveillance, stewardship, and containment within a One Health framework, while also leading genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis under the SCOPE Pandemic Fund project.He/She will co-ordinate cross-border One Health AMR surveillance, regional AMR data systems, laboratory and genomic capacity, environmental AMR hotspot monitoring, workforce development, governance support and sustainable coordination mechanisms

Main Functions

1. Support the operationalisation of integrated cross-border AMR surveillance and early warning systems in the Lake Chad Basin.
2. Lead the technical development of a regional AMR surveillance dashboard for priority pathogens.
3. Strengthen integration of AMR data into the African Union Digital One Health Platform and related regional surveillance systems.
4. Support the identification and monitoring of AMR hotspots in high-risk ecosystems, including areas linked to water, vectors, transhumance corridors and cross-border movement.
5. Strengthen laboratory capacity for AMR detection, referral, quality management, biosafety, biosecurity, LIMS and genomic epidemiology.
6. Build the capacity of One Health workforce actors to detect, analyse, report and respond to AMR risks.
7. Support regional policy, regulatory and data-sharing arrangements needed for cross-border AMR surveillance and response.
8. Contribute to resource mobilisation, reporting, stewardship and sustainability of AMR-related investments.

Specific Responsibilities

1.1 AMR Technical Leadership (One Health)

1.  Provide technical leadership for integrating AMR into digital cross-border community-based One Health surveillance and early warning systems.
2. Support the identification of priority AMR pathogens, sentinel sites, surveillance nodes and reporting pathways across the four Lake Chad Basin countries.
3. Develop or adapt standard operating procedures for AMR surveillance across human, animal and environmental interfaces.
4. Support AMR surveillance at points of entry, transhumance corridors, border communities, pastoralist routes and other high-risk interfaces.
5. Ensure surveillance approaches are sensitive to fragile, conflict-affected and hard-to-reach settings.
6. Work with relevant teams to integrate AMR-related rumour tracking and misinformation monitoring into broader One Health risk communication systems where appropriate.

1.2 AMR data systems

1. Lead the technical design of the integrated regional AMR surveillance dashboard for priority pathogens.
2. Define dashboard indicators, data fields, metadata standards, reporting frequency, visualisation needs and decision-use cases.
3. Work with digital health, data analytics and informatics teams to ensure interoperability with the African Union Digital One Health Platform, laboratory information systems and other regional surveillance systems.
4. Support the development of data-sharing protocols, privacy safeguards and governance arrangements for cross-border AMR data exchange.
5. Provide technical input to the proposed data analytics and informatics training hub, especially on AMR analytics, disease intelligence, climate-health modelling, community feedback and trade-related implications.

1.3 AMR Genomic epidemiology

1. Collaborate with laboratories, universities, and international partners (e.g., ILRI) on sequencing initiatives.
2. Support harmonisation of specimen collection, transport and referral procedures for AMR-relevant samples across human, animal and environmental sectors.
3. Provide technical input into laboratory quality management, biosafety and biosecurity standards relevant to AMR testing and reporting.
4. Support readiness assessments for regional reference laboratories and other laboratories involved in AMR detection.
5. Contribute to the operationalisation of laboratory information management systems linked to regional and global surveillance systems.
6. Support capacity building for genomic sequencing and epidemiological analysis for priority zoonotic diseases and AMR.
7. Facilitate linkages between regional reference laboratories, mobile laboratories and cross-border surveillance structures.
8. Support proficiency testing and quality assurance mechanisms for laboratories involved in AMR surveillance.

1.4 AMR Capacity building

1. Contribute to the cross-border, gender-sensitive One Health workforce planning strategy and action plan.
2. Develop and deliver competency-based training modules on One Health AMR surveillance, AMR data analysis, laboratory quality systems, biosafety, biosecurity, genomic epidemiology and cross-border response.
3. Support e-learning materials and training packages for national and regional actors.
4. Build the capacity of Regional Animal Health Centres, Regional Coordination Centres, national One Health platforms, veterinary services, public health actors, laboratories and points-of-entry staff.
5. Support multidisciplinary rapid response teams on AMR-relevant preparedness and response.
6. Contribute to simulation exercises involving AMR, zoonotic disease risks and other veterinary and public health events.

1.5 Policy and Regulatory Frameworks

1. Support the development of One Health cooperation agreements relevant to AMR surveillance, reporting and response.
2. Provide technical input into regional data-sharing and privacy protection guidelines.
3. Support the development of cross-border One Health regulatory frameworks relevant to veterinary laboratory accreditation, certification standards and AMR reporting.
4. Support ECOWAS and ECCAS processes to formulate harmonised regional One Health guidelines and protocols where AMR is relevant.
5. Participate in regional One Health coordination platforms, including mechanisms involving the Lake Chad Basin Commission, RECs, AU institutions, national platforms, civil society, communities, women and youth groups.
6. 01Ensure AMR is appropriately reflected in policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement and regional campaign materials

Duty Station

AU-IBAR office based in Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to participating countries within the Lake Chad Basin region.

Criteria for Scoring

Criteria	Score (%)
Qualifications	20
General Experience	25
Soecific Experience	40
Other Skills	10
Proficiency in language	5
Total	100

Academic Requirements

Qualifications

1. Bachelors’ degree in Veterinary Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Public Health, Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.
2. A degree with specialization in Antimicrobial Resistance, Infectious Diseases, Genomics/Bioinformatics, or One Health is highly desirable.
3. Master's degree in above fields is desirable.

General Experience

1. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in AMR, One Health surveillance, laboratory systems, epidemiology or transboundary disease surveillance, infectious disease control, laboratory sciences, or One Health programming.
2. Demonstrated experience in AMR surveillance across animal, human, food or environmental health sectors.
3. Strong knowledge of One Health systems, AMR data systems, laboratory networks, biosafety, biosecurity and surveillance platforms.
4. Prior experience in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings or with international development/UN/donor-funded projects is an advantage.

Specific Experience

1. At least 3 years of hands-on experience in genomic sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, or molecular epidemiology applied to pathogen surveillance.
2. Demonstrated experience working within multi-sectoral/One Health teams spanning human health, animal health, and/or environmental sectors.
3. Experience supporting national AMR action plans, laboratory capacity strengthening, or regional surveillance networks preferred.
4. Experience with regional or cross-border health programmes in Africa.
5. Experience in data governance, interoperability and cross-border information sharing.
6. Familiarity with JEE, SPAR, PVS, NAPHS, One Health platforms and pandemic preparedness frameworks.
7. Experience in developing technical protocols, training materials, dashboards, policy briefs and implementation reports.

Competencies

1. AMR Surveillance & Epidemiology.
2. Genomic Sequencing & Bioinformatics.
3. One Health approaches and zoonotic disease ecology.
4. Laboratory & Diagnostic Skills.
5. Multisectoral coordination and stakeholder engagement.
6. Technical report writing and evidence synthesis.
7. Strong analytical, facilitation, and communication skills.
8. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments.

Required Skills

1. Strong analytical, facilitation, writing and stakeholder coordination skills.
2. Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa.
3. Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions or stakeholders operating in the regions.
4. Very strong writing, analytical and communication, computer skills are necessary.
5. Proficiency in at least any of AU official languages

Duration

The project life-span is for three (3) years but the duration of this consultancy is 6 months, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment as soon as the contract is signed.

Remuneration

The monthly remuneration for this Consultancy is P2 Step 5. Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.  

Supervision and reporting

The consultant will be under the Direct Supervision of the Project Co-ordinator – SCOPE project with overall supervision of the Director of AU-IBAR.

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

 Please submit Applications should include the following:

i.    Detailed curriculum vitae;
ii.    Copies of academic and professional qualifications;
iii.    Completed declaration on exclusion criteria in the format attached; and,
iv.    Copies of identification documents.

to the email procurement@au-ibar.org and a copy to albert.obiero@au-ibar.org clearly indicating in the subject line “Anti-Microbial Resistance Expert” The deadline for applications will be 06th November 2026 at 23:45 Nairobi Local Time.