Consultancy for Evaluation of Rift Valley Fever Surveillance Data from Somalia
The Somali Animal Health Services Project (SAHSP) is funded by the European Commission (EC) and implemented by a consortium of three International NGOs namely, Terra Nuova (Lead Agency), UNA and COOPI. The project operates countrywide through four zonal offices in Hargeysa (Somaliland), Garowe (Puntland), Jowhar (Central Somalia) and Dinsoor (Southern Somalia). SAHSP aims to enhance access by Somali livestock sector stakeholders to improved animal health services that comply with internationally acceptable standards for participation in safe domestic and export trade in livestock and livestock products. SAHSP is mandated to assist Somali Stakeholders to carry out surveillance and control of major epizootic diseases of livestock. SAHSP is providing support for the establishment of livestock disease surveillance and reporting systems as well as emergency preparedness and response systems for epidemic diseases of livestock. Baseline random cross-sectional serological surveys have been conducted for Rift Valley Fever, Peste des petits ruminants and Rinderpest. The Project seeks the inputs of a veterinary epidemiologist with proven experience in the risk management of Rift Valley Fever as a short-term consultant to evaluate and map available serological results from surveys for Rift Valley Fever and to make recommendations on short to medium term measures for the mitigation of the negative impacts of future RVF outbreaks on livestock export trade and public health.
Location: Kenya (with possible travel to Somalia)
Closing date: 12 Nov 2007
Closing date: 12 Nov 2007
Job Description
1.0 Background Information
Livestock is the most important productive and export sector in Somalia. Approximately 2 million animals are exported each year creating 60% of employment opportunities, generating about 40% of GDP and 80% of foreign currency earnings. Taxation on livestock trade and export is one of the major sources of income for the public administrations in Somalia. The sector is however threatened by the imposition of frequent livestock trade bans by the major importing countries in the Gulf Region due to perceived or actual outbreaks of trade limiting animal diseases and zoonoses. Since 1997, there have been three trade bans imposed on Somali livestock due to outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in the Horn of Africa Region.
The Somali Animal Health Services Project (SAHSP) is funded by the European Commission (EC) and implemented by a consortium of three International NGOs namely, Terra Nuova (Lead Agency), UNA and COOPI. The project operates countrywide through four zonal offices in Hargeysa (Somaliland), Garowe (Puntland), Jowhar (Central Somalia) and Dinsoor (Southern Somalia). SAHSP aims to enhance access by Somali livestock sector stakeholders to improved animal health services that comply with internationally acceptable standards for participation in safe domestic and export trade in livestock and livestock products. SAHSP is mandated to assist Somali Stakeholders to carry out surveillance and control of major epizootic diseases of livestock
SAHSP is providing support for the establishment of livestock disease surveillance and reporting systems as well as emergency preparedness and response systems for epidemic diseases of livestock. Baseline random cross-sectional serological surveys have been conducted for Rift Valley Fever, Peste des petits ruminants and Rinderpest. The Project seeks the inputs of a veterinary epidemiologist with proven experience in the risk management of Rift Valley Fever as a short-term consultant to evaluate and map available serological results from surveys for Rift Valley Fever and to make recommendations on short to medium term measures for the mitigation of the negative impacts of future RVF outbreaks on livestock export trade and public health.
Context of the Project
The collapse of the military regime in Somalia in 1991 led to the destruction of public sector institutions that delivered animal health services. This resulted in poor standards of delivery of diagnostic, preventive and curative services with the subsequent resurgence of major epizootic diseases that triggered the imposition of repeated trade bans by Saudi Arabia and other importing countries in the Gulf Region. In Somaliland and Puntland, public sector institutions established in 1991 and 1998 respectively and more recently by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, remain weak due to lack of adequately trained manpower and poor budgetary support to implement activities. Consequently, structured disease surveillance and control activities coordinated by the public sector are lacking and Somali livestock and livestock products are subject to poor terms of trade due to the lack of assurance of their sanitary status.
The Somali Animal Health Services Project has generated data on the serological prevalence of RVF countrywide. There is need for detailed evaluation and modeling of this data in conjunction with other relevant data and information in order to identify areas at risk to future outbreaks of RVF and to recommend options for strategic interventions in order to assure human health and continuity of the export trade in livestock and livestock products.
2.0 Terms of Reference
2.1 Objectives and scope
The objectives and scope for the consultancy are to:
a) To evaluate and map the results of serological tests on sera collected from different geo-referenced locations in Somalia.
b) To map the risk of RVF outbreaks and provide a predictive model for the likely occurrence of the disease in different areas of Somalia.
c) To make recommendations on the short and medium term measures to mitigate the negative impacts on human health and the export trade in livestock commodities from Somalia due to future outbreaks of RVF in the Horn of Africa Region.
2.1.1 Data to be reviewed
a) Serological results from random cross-sectional surveys for Rift Valley Fever in Somalia.
b) Climatic and topographical data on areas of Somalia where flooding is likely with a high build-up of insect vector populations.
c) Records of outbreaks of RVF in the Horn of Africa Region over the last 10 years and the effects on human health, animal health and trade in livestock commodities.
2.1.2 Predictive modeling of RVF outbreaks
The consultant will develop the specific methodology including computer simulation/ modeling for the analysis.
3.0 Expected Outputs
- Risk map for the occurrence of RVF in different areas of Somalia.
- Options to mitigate the impacts of future RVF outbreaks
4. Tasks for the consultant
The consultants will be expected to perform the following tasks:
- Hold consultations with SAHSP staff and staff from other agencies involved in animal health interventions in Somalia to obtain an overview of the Somali livestock sector and the constraints limiting livestock production and trade.
- Review available data on surveillance for Rift Valley Fever carried out by the Somali PACE and SAHSP projects.
- Review any other data necessary for modeling the risk of RVF in Somalia.
- Develop a predictive model for the risk of RVF outbreaks in different areas of Somalia.
- Make recommendations on measures for intervention strategies to mitigate the impacts of RVF outbreaks in the Horn of Africa Region on human health and the Somali livestock trade.
- Prepare a detailed report for submission to SAHSP and the Ministries responsible for livestock development in Somalia.
5. Methodology
The consultant will be expected to be familiar with the SAHSP livestock disease surveillance activities and results to date. The consultant will develop the methodology for the study for discussion and approval by SAHSP staff prior to the start of activities.
6. Reporting and feedback
The consultant will be expected to present the draft methodology for the analysis for discussion and approval by SAHSP. The consultants will then conduct the following a time schedule and sequence to be agreed with SAHSP.
Following completion of the analysis, the consultant will debrief senior technical staff from the Ministries responsible for livestock development in Somalia, the SAHSP project team and other agencies implementing animal health interventions in Somalia. The consultant will subsequently prepare and submit a report to the SAHSP Project Management Unit (PMU) in Nairobi within 14 days of completion of the mission.
7. Expertise required
The consultant should be a Veterinary Epidemiologist with a post graduate qualification in veterinary epidemiology or statistics and experience in disease modeling. He/she should have at least 5 years experience in GIS based livestock disease surveillance techniques and in-depth knowledge of the epidemiology of Rift Valley Fever.
8. Time schedule
The consultancy should be carried out for a total of 30 calendar days commencing not later than 19th November 2007.
Vacancies Contact
How to apply: Applicants should submit their detailed curriculum vitae to:
The Chief Technical Advisor,
Somali Animal Health Services Project
e-mail: sahsp@nbi.ispkenya.com
All applications should reach this address by the close of business on 12th November 2007 and should include a statement of costs (air tickets and subsistence allowances) and consultancy fees expected for the task.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Reference Code: RW_78FJ28-28