Posted on Mon, 26 Jun 2023, 13:19

Deadline on Mon, 31 Jul 2023, 23:59

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is soliciting nominations for appropriately qualified experts to take part in: 

• the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC) Team on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4) 

Nominations are due by 31 July 2023.  

Experts should be available to attend the IC Team meeting, planned to be held virtually every month or as needed and tentatively scheduled from July 2023 until July 2024. The timing of virtual meetings will rotate and sometimes meetings will be held at unusual times, so participants will need to be flexible. Participants should also have a good internet connection, headsets and access to virtual meetings devices. The meeting will be held in English.

1. Specific expertise required 

The nominations will be reviewed considering the composition and criteria specified in the Terms of Reference for the IC Team on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4). The IC will make the selection of experts based on the information provided. Selected experts will be contacted by the IPPC Secretariat. 

• Composition and criteria for the selection of experts for the IC Team on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4) (see Terms of Reference of the IC Team on Fusarium oxysprum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4) - International Plant Protection Convention (ippc.int))

The IC Team is skills and knowledge based and is composed of:   

• one expert from at least the following FAO regions where this pest has an impact and qualifies as a quarantine pest: Africa, Near-East and North Africa and Latin America, 
• at least one expert from an RPPO,   
• at least two experts representing entities involved in monitoring and responding to outbreaks for this pest such as international organization, the academia and the private sector,  
• at least one representative from the IC, in addition to the IC Lead,  
• noting experts may represent more than one role. 

Experts will be selected based on their technical and practical expertise in the subject matter and should have combined expertise and knowledge in:  

• surveillance and diagnostic on Fusarium oxysprum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4,  
• Knowledge and experience in pest outbreak response, developing and implementing contingency plans and emergency actions, possibly specifically on Fusarium oxysprum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4,  
• knowledge and experience in designing and implementation of simulation exercises, including tabletop exercises, in general and possibly specifically on Fusarium oxysprum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4.  

Experts will also be selected based on geographical representation from both developing and developed countries to help ensure that the material developed is globally applicable and reflects best practices from all over the world. The IPPC Secretariat and the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee support equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and encourage all interested experts to submit their candidature. 

2. Instructions for making nominations 

Nominations will be accepted from contracting parties, national or regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs or RPPOs) and international entities. 

A nomination should only be made if the nominee has agreed to his/her nomination and can allocate appropriate time to the task and a signed Statement of Commitment is required to verify this commitment. 

Each nomination must be accompanied by the following documentation, available on this webpage: 

1. Completed Nominee details and summary of expertise form - All sections should be completed, including contact details, education and professional training. A clear description of the nominee’s expertise is required. MS Word version of the document is preferred. The file should be named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_Summary. 
2. Completed and signed Statement of commitment - this should be read carefully by each nominee and discussed between the nominee and their employer. The form should then be signed by the nominee and a senior person in authority from the organization that employs the nominee and submitted with the nomination (as a file such as PDF). The file should be named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_commitment. 
3. The nominee’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) – electronic copy of the nominee’s CV (only as a word processing file such as MS Word) with the file named as follows: COUNTRY_SURNAME_Firstname_CV. MS Word version of the document is preferred. 

Submissions should be sent to the IPPC Secretariat by e-mail [email protected] with copy to Ms. Maimouna Abass ([email protected]) and Ms. Rokhila Madaminova ([email protected]) no later than 31 July 2023. The name of the nominating country, RPPO or international organization and the words “Call for Experts for the IC Team on TR4” should be placed in the subject line of the email message.  

Please contact the IPPC Secretariat ([email protected], [email protected]) for more information.