INTRODUCTION

The Fleming Fund (FF) is a U.K. Department of Health and Social Care programme to help low and middle-income countries fight Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). AMR poses a severe global threat, expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. With potential costs reaching $100 trillion, its impact on the global economy is significant. Fleming Fund Grants aim to tackle the AMR challenge in developing countries including Pakistan. The grants are funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and managed by Mott MacDonald for the country, regional and fellowship grants. Pakistan has received Fleming Fund support since 2019 in the form of two Country Grants, 9 Fellowships, and central and local procurement of equipment, reagents, and consumables. Between 2017 and the end of phase-1 of the program in March 2023, the program has provided financial support to grantees to establish and support local development of national AMR surveillance systems.

In partnership with the Fleming Fund, DAI's programme in Pakistan collaborates with the Pakistani government to strengthen systems using a “One Health” (OH) approach – a multisectoral approach to complex health problems that reaches across human health, animal health, and environment sectors. As global leaders in One Health, the DAI team helps incorporate One Health across programme interventions. DAI is helping Pakistan become a leader in combating antimicrobial resistance, and a model for better management of antimicrobials in human and animal populations. DAI and its consortium partners have successfully secured an additional round, Phase 2, of the Fleming Fund Country Grant in Pakistan which spans from January 2024 to December 2025. The Phase 2 of the FFCG programme focuses on achieving four intermediate outcomes: 1) Production of quality AMR/U/C and burden of disease data; 2) Conducting quality data analysis; 3) Sharing quality data analysis with decision-makers; and 4) Contributing to sustainable investments at both the country and global levels to counter AMR.

POSITION SUMMARY

Working in collaboration with the FAO and MoNFS&R, the consultant is required to play a key role in developing a comprehensive National AMR Surveillance Strategy for food and food products from terrestrial animals, ensuring alignment with international standards such as the WHO Global Action Plan, National Action Plan-AMR, FAO guidelines and the WOAH PVS Pathway.
The consultant will address gaps in existing surveillance systems, adopt a One Health approach, and ensure cross-sectoral collaboration across animal health, aquaculture, food safety, and environmental sectors. The stakeholders will be engaged through workshops and consultations to create an inclusive and sustainable strategy.

The consultant must design a phased implementation framework to enhance surveillance capacity, improve data collection, reporting, and analysis mechanisms, and promote evidence-based policies. Additionally, the strategy should foster prudent antimicrobial use and support Pakistan’s contribution to global AMR initiatives, ensuring recognition at the international level.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The Surveillance Specialist will perform the following tasks in collaboration with FAO Pakistan, MoNFS&R, FFCGP, and other relevant stakeholders:

1. Assessment of Current Surveillance Systems

• Conduct a detailed assessment of existing Foodborne AMR surveillance system / mechanisms within the food chain, including animal health, aquaculture, and food safety sectors.
• Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in the current surveillance system.

2. Strategy Development

• Develop a National AMR Surveillance Strategy for food and food products from terrestrial animals in alignment with FAO guidelines, WHO Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS), FAO InFARM and WOAH standards.
• Ensure the strategy incorporates components for data collection, reporting, analysis, and sharing across sectors to facilitate a One Health approach.
• Establish clear objectives, roles, and responsibilities for stakeholders involved in surveillance.
• The strategy document should be aligned to the existing National AMR Surveillance strategies and the AMR NAP.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, private sector entities, and international partners, to ensure an inclusive approach to strategy development.
• Organize consultative workshops to present drafts and incorporate feedback from stakeholders.

4. Alignment with National and International Frameworks

• Ensure the strategy aligns with the National Action Plan on AMR, FAO’s AMR Action Plan, regional AMR surveillance guidelines and international frameworks.
• Integrate cross-sectoral considerations, such as antimicrobial use in agriculture, animal health, and food production, to address foodborne AMR comprehensively.

5. Approval and Implementation Plan

• Facilitate the approval process with the MoNFS&R, revising the strategy based on stakeholder feedback.
• Develop a phased implementation roadmap, including timelines, resource allocation, and monitoring mechanisms.

REQUIREMENTS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, LANGUAGES ETC.)

• Advanced degree in veterinary medicine, food safety, food microbiology, epidemiology, public health, or a related field.
• At least 10-15 years of experience in AMR surveillance, preferably within the food chain, agriculture, or animal health sectors.
• Proven expertise in developing surveillance strategies and systems, with knowledge of FAO, WHO, and WOAH guidelines.
• Strong understanding of the One Health approach and its application to AMR.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality technical reports and strategic frameworks.
• Experience working with government agencies and international organizations is preferred.