The FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026 opportunity is a home-based, 11-month consultancy supporting veterinary paraprofessional businesses and animal health initiatives under FAO’s Pandemic Fund project in South Africa. Applications close on 4 September 2026.
The FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026 position offers an opportunity for an experienced veterinary or animal-health professional to contribute to a major One Health and pandemic preparedness initiative in South Africa.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is recruiting for a Senior VPP Consultant under vacancy announcement 2601801. The consultancy is home-based, lasts 11 months, and is classified as a Consultant / Personal Services Agreement (PSA) opportunity. The application deadline is 4 September 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Apply through the official FAO Jobs portal
FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026: Job Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| Position | Senior VPP Consultant |
| Vacancy number | 2601801 |
| Duty location | Home-Based |
| Contract type | Consultant / Personal Services Agreement |
| Duration | 11 months |
| Organizational unit | FAO Representation in South Africa |
| Posted | 21 August 2026 |
| Deadline | 4 September 2026 |
| Required experience | Minimum 5 years in animal health |
| Education | Advanced university degree in veterinary studies |
| Language | English, Level C |
The position is part of FAO’s work in South Africa and focuses specifically on Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs), particularly Animal Health Technicians (AHTs) who are being supported to establish sustainable primary animal healthcare businesses.
About the FAO VPP Project
The consultancy builds on the Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessional Entrepreneurs project, which FAO South Africa implemented from 2022 to 2026.
The earlier project sought to strengthen the capacity of Animal Health Technicians to provide quality primary animal healthcare while developing sustainable private practices. Activities included entrepreneurship training, business coaching, and partnerships designed to strengthen livestock health, rural livelihoods, and disease surveillance.
The next phase connects these outcomes with the Pandemic Fund project, “Building a Resilient Future: Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response in South Africa through a One Health Approach.”
The wider Pandemic Fund project focuses on three key areas:
- Surveillance and early warning systems
- Laboratory systems
- Capacity development
The VPP component is intended to position trained AHT entrepreneurs as contributors to zoonotic disease prevention and early warning systems, while supporting sustainable primary animal healthcare businesses serving livestock farmers.
What Will the Senior VPP Consultant Do?
The successful consultant will provide high-level strategic and technical expertise for the AHT component of the Pandemic Fund project.
Technical Advisory Support
The consultant will provide technical input to the project coordinator and wider project team on areas including:
- Legal and regulatory compliance
- Facility location and site suitability
- Infrastructure and equipment requirements
- Facility layout
- Business establishment
- Community engagement
- Marketing
This means the role combines animal-health expertise with business development, project implementation and stakeholder engagement.
Supporting AHT Businesses
A major responsibility will be helping create and sustain funding opportunities and partnerships that enable AHTs to establish and maintain primary animal healthcare clinics.
The consultant will lead strategic engagement with provincial government departments and private-sector stakeholders and explore complementary service-delivery models that could support AHT businesses.
Training and Coaching
The consultant will work with the AHT project coordinator and business coaches to develop a targeted, needs-based coaching and training programme.
This will include developing tools for monitoring AHT progress and coaching implementation, as well as contributing to workshops, webinars and training initiatives.
Starter Kits and Technical Support
Another responsibility is providing technical guidance for the design of the programme’s starter kits, including advice on equipment requirements and specifications.
The consultant will also provide ongoing remote and on-site technical support and monitor the progress of AHTs and their businesses.
Stakeholder Engagement
The role involves engagement with the South African Veterinary Council and other relevant stakeholders.
The objective is to increase awareness of the importance of AHT-led businesses and strengthen collaboration between veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals.
The consultant will also contribute to monitoring and evaluation, communication, and knowledge-sharing activities.
FAO Senior VPP Consultant Eligibility Requirements
Education
Applicants should have an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO, specializing in veterinary studies at a higher-degree level.
The vacancy states that candidates with a bachelor’s degree may be considered if they have two additional years of relevant professional experience.
Professional Experience
A minimum of five years of working experience in the animal health discipline is required.
Candidates should therefore demonstrate practical professional experience relevant to veterinary services, animal health, veterinary paraprofessionals or related areas.
Language
A working knowledge of English at Level C is required.
Skills and Competencies
FAO identifies several competencies that will be important for this consultancy.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Strong knowledge of stakeholders in the animal-health sector
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong report-writing ability
- Technical and administrative competence
- Project management skills
- Experience with computerized financial, travel or human-resources systems and administrative procedures
- Data-analysis capabilities
- Proficiency with project-management software
FAO’s core competencies for the position include results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
Application Requirements
Candidates should create or update their profile on the FAO recruitment system and ensure that it accurately reflects their:
- Employment history
- Academic qualifications
- Language skills
- Relevant professional experience
Applicants are also required to attach a letter of motivation to their online profile.
FAO states that incomplete applications will not be considered and that only applications submitted through the official recruitment portal will be considered.
FAO Senior VPP Consultant Deadline
The position was posted on 21 August 2026, and the stated closure date is 4 September 2026 at 11:59 PM. The vacancy is home-based and has an 11-month duration.
Because the closing time displayed by FAO can depend on the applicant’s device settings, candidates should submit their applications well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.
How to Apply for the FAO Senior VPP Consultant Job 2026
Interested candidates should:
- Visit the official FAO recruitment website.
- Create or update their online profile.
- Enter complete employment and academic information.
- Include relevant animal-health experience.
- Provide language information.
- Attach a strong letter of motivation.
- Review the application for completeness.
- Submit the application through the official FAO recruitment portal before the deadline.
FAO specifically states that only applications received through its recruitment portal will be considered.
Important Information About the Recruitment Process
Applicants should be aware that FAO does not charge fees at any stage of its recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing.
FAO also states that academic qualifications must come from institutions recognized or accredited through the relevant international higher-education databases. Selected candidates may be subject to medical, accreditation, residency or visa requirements and security clearances.
Candidates may also be asked to provide performance assessments and authorize verification of employment, education and other relevant records.
Why This FAO Consultancy Is Significant
The FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026 role sits at the intersection of animal health, entrepreneurship, One Health and pandemic preparedness.
For an experienced animal-health professional, the position offers an opportunity to contribute to strengthening frontline veterinary and animal-health services while supporting AHT entrepreneurs and building stronger connections among government, veterinary professionals and private-sector stakeholders.
The home-based arrangement and 11-month consultancy structure may also make the opportunity attractive to professionals with relevant technical and project-management experience.
Final Thoughts
The FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026 vacancy is a specialized consultancy aimed at experienced animal-health professionals who can combine technical expertise with project management, business development, stakeholder engagement and capacity-building skills.
The role supports FAO’s efforts to strengthen veterinary paraprofessional businesses as part of a broader Pandemic Fund and One Health initiative in South Africa.
With applications closing on 4 September 2026, eligible professionals should review the requirements carefully, prepare a focused motivation letter, and submit a complete application through the official FAO recruitment system.
Strong SEO Keywords
FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026, FAO jobs 2026, FAO consultant jobs 2026, FAO South Africa jobs, Senior VPP Consultant, Veterinary Paraprofessional jobs, FAO animal health jobs, animal health consultant jobs, veterinary consultant jobs 2026, FAO home based jobs, home based consultant jobs, FAO remote consultancy, United Nations consultant jobs, FAO careers 2026, animal health jobs South Africa, veterinary jobs South Africa, One Health jobs 2026, Pandemic Fund jobs, veterinary paraprofessional jobs, Animal Health Technician jobs, FAO consultancy opportunities, international development jobs, agriculture jobs 2026, livestock health jobs, veterinary public health jobs, FAO vacancies 2026, United Nations jobs 2026, remote UN jobs, FAO Senior Consultant, FAO recruitment 2026, animal health consultancy jobs
ALSO CHECK
International Student Festival in Norway (ISFiT) 2027: Volunteer Opportunities, Festival Theme and How to Apply
Danish Refugee Council Consultancy Job 2026: Earth Observation for Displacement Forecasting – Requirements, Deadline and How to Apply
UNEP Remote Internship 2026: Communications and Events Internship, Eligibility, Responsibilities, Duration, and Application Guide
Follow Us On Our Social Media Platforms
WhatsApp Group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUYDUNb8GCx4V2QqkBoiuq?mode=ems_copy_t
WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb60pjHL2ATw5rPOEw2l
Facebook Page:
3 thoughts on “FAO Senior VPP Consultant 2026: Home-Based Consultancy Opportunity in Animal Health”