Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) virus is a deadly zoonotic pathogen. Bangladesh now ranks among countries worldwide with the highest reported number of HPAI outbreaks. HPAI has developed into a global issue, appearing in countries across the world. The routes of introduction of the virus are thought to include international commerce in the trade of poultry and poultry products, contaminated people/materials, illegal wildlife trading, pet trade and migratory birds.

Bangladesh contains wetlands of great biological diversity and are considered to be of international ecological importance due to the extensive migratory waterfowl population that use these wetlands as its habitat. Bangladesh is within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) of migratory birds providing roosting and feeding habitats on its resourceful inland and coastal wetlands, such as Tangura Haor, Hakaluki Haor, Baikka Beel, Sonadia Island, Nijuhm Dweep and many more.

Wild birds are natural hosts of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) sub-types. The most avian influenza strains are low pathogenic and are not considered as a health concern for either domestic poultry or humans. However, the circulation of LPAI in domestic poultry can lead to mutations that cause poultry death. HPAI H5N1 appears to be rare in wild birds. In spite of this, there is some evidence that wild birds may play some role in moving the virus. In order to determine the role of wild birds in the transmission of HPAI H5N1 to domestic birds, it is important to carry out appropriate targeted surveillance of wild and domestic bird populations.

IUCN, with financial support from USDA/FAS and in collaboration with Forest Department/MoEF and other research organizations, is implementing a 3-year Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5N1) monitoring and surveillance of wild birds programme. The programme will band/tag wild birds and collect samples from wild birds and domestic birds in locations where seasonal inter-mingling is common to determine the migratory patterns of Bangladesh’s wild birds and to quantify the possible transmission of AI from wild to domestic birds.

For further information on this, visit:

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/secretariat/offices/asia/asia_where_work/bangladesh/about_us/bdongoingprojects/investigation_of_wild_to_domestic_bird_avian_influenza_transmission/

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1. Coordinate and supervise all activities of the project as per the agreed project document, including waterfowl census, database management, GIS mapping, bird ringing & sampling initiatives, and training sessions, workshops and campaigns;
2. Manage the project budget by ensuring the application of all appropriate IUCN and/or donor guidelines;
3. Manage and lead the project team, including volunteers and consultants;
4. Develop and maintain collaboration and partnership with organizations in the line with project needs;
5. Communicate with donors and other external relevant individuals & agencies on a regular basis to implement the project;
6. Ensure project reports and all other committed deliverables are produced, submitted and accepted by the donor on a timely manner as per the agreement;
7. Develop and submit proposal to the donors for the 2nd and 3rd year funding of the project;
8. Ensure necessary management requirements, including timely submission of work plans, budgets, internal agreements, contracts, and progress reports.