Call for experts to join the OIE’s Specialist Commissions

Are you an internationally recognised veterinarian or expert with broad knowledge in terrestrial or aquatic animal health?

Do you wish to participate in the development of international standards that contributes to the improvement of aquatic and terrestrial animal health worldwide?

Do you want to become a member of one of the OIE's four Specialist Commissions?

Can you obtain your Delegate's endorsement and the support of your employer to commit the time needed to undertake additional work and to attend meetings and events?

What do Specialist Commission members do?

The role of the members varies according to which of the four Specialist Commissions they are elected to. Fundamentally members engage in group work with other experts to reach consensus on scientific matters in relation to the OIE's international standards. This involves prioritising and overseeing the development of new standards, identifying issues with existing standards, making decisions on implementation of standards, and providing advisory support for other aspects of the OIE's scientific work programmes. Members of each Commission meet at least twice yearly to address its work programme.

The Specialist Commissions collaborate closely on issues needing a harmonised approach, while ensuring the latest scientific information is used in their work.

About the Process

This call for nomination will establish a list of suitable experts from which the World Assembly of Delegates will elect members and nominate presidents and vice presidents for a term of three (3) years from May 2021 to one of the following four Specialist Commissions: the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission, the Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission, the Biological Standards Commission or the Science Commission for Animal Diseases.

Candidates elected will be notified in June 2021; in time to begin preparation for the September 2021 meetings of the relevant Specialist Commission.

This process assures the excellence, independence and transparency of the Specialist Commissions. It will ensure that the candidates presented for election includes scientific experts representing geographic regions of the world.

Who can apply?

Internationally recognised veterinarians or experts with broad knowledge and expertise in some of the following areas:

• major diseases of terrestrial or aquatic animals (including OIE listed diseases)
• animal health aspects of international trade in terrestrial or aquatic animals and their products, in the context of the WTO SPS Agreement, the control of animal diseases, animal welfare and veterinary public health
• surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases of terrestrial animals (mammals, reptiles, birds or bees), or aquatic animals (amphibians, crustaceans, fish or molluscs)
• policies on the assessment and control or eradication of diseases, risk analysis, epidemiology, vaccinology applied to disease prevention and control
• laboratory diagnosis, standards for biological products, diagnostic preparations, vaccines and immune sera, veterinary laboratory management, biosafety and biosecurity, vaccine production, test validation, laboratory quality assurance, epidemiology, genomics and new scientific technologies.
  
  

When can you apply?

The call for nominations of experts for election to the OIE Specialist Commissions will open on Wednesday 1 July 2020 and close on Friday 4 September 2020

How can you apply?

• Please note that the system does not allow the applicant to save an incomplete application to return to it later. We recommend that applicants prepare their application on a separate document to copy-paste text into the online form, when ready to submit.
• Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

What do you need to do?

The applicant must :

• Fill in the online application form in English
• Upload a brief CV in English (max 4 pages) with relevant educational qualifications, experience and achievements or publications
• Obtain a letter of endorsement from their Delegate. The list of OIE Delegates is on the OIE website, click here to consult it.
• Demonstrate compliance with the 7 criteria described in the Annex III of the Guidance document by providing a short text for each, i.e.:
• 3 professional competencies (Qualifications, International Standards, Scientific Technical Expertise/International Trade)
• 4 attributes and skills (Language, Communication and Analytical skills, Intercultural Awareness and teamwork skills, Independence)
• Indicate whether your employer supports your application, given the high level of commitment required and that the OIE does not provide an honorarium. The OIE covers costs of participation in meetings such as travel (in economy class), accommodation and a per diem.

Evaluation procedure

An Evaluation Committee, comprised of representatives from OIE Headquarters and independent experts, will evaluate the applications against the competencies and the personal skills and attributes to determine their suitability for election to a Specialist Commission. The report of the Evaluation Committee's recommendations regarding applicants found to be suitable to be nominated for election as members for each of the Specialist Commissions, will be provided to the OIE Director General and the OIE Council. Delegates will be informed of the list of suitable candidates prior to the elections, which will take place at the 88th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates in May 2021.

What are the benefits?

As an expert you will be part of an international and interdisciplinary team contributing to the development of international standards and recommendations aimed at improving terrestrial and aquatic animal health worldwide. Working with the OIE and its international scientific networks will provide you with unique opportunities to interact with other internationally recognised experts in the fields of terrestrial or aquatic animal health, disease diagnosis, prevention and control and animal welfare in the related international trade environment.

Learn more about the OIE Specialist Commission: