The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources recognizes the importance of regional collaboration in animal genetic resources management. It notes that:

"The management of transboundary breeds and populations, as well as specific regional socio-economic, cultural and environmental characteristics, provide a rationale for coordination and collaboration at the regional level. Investment in joint activities (such as gene banking) may often be more efficient and cost effective than the multiplication of overlapping national activities."

The Global Plan of Action calls for support for the establishment of country-driven regional focal points and regional networks, and for regional collaboration in different aspects of animal genetic resources management, including inventory and monitoring, in situ and ex situ conservation, awareness raising, training, technology transfer and financing.

Regional focal points and networks

Regional or sub-regional focal points have currently been established in:

• Europe;
• Latin America and the Caribbean;
• North, East, West, Central and Southern Africa and;
• Asia
• An animal genetic resources network has also been established in the Southwest Pacific.

Regional focal points prepared reports on their activities in 2011, during the first round of reporting on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, and in 2014, during the preparation of The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Key roles of regional focal points

Cooperation

• Promoting efficient inventory and characterization of the region's breeds
• Coordinating risk assessments and conservation measures for the region's breeds
• Strengthening collaboration in breeding programmes within the region
• Acting as an independent "honest broker" to facilitate bilateral and multilateral cooperation among countries

Capacity building

• Supporting the work of National Coordinators and National Focal Points for the Management of Animal Genetic Resources
• Developing and disseminating information products and training materials
• Promoting the exchange of information on animal genetic resources management
• Coordinating and supporting the development and implementation of projects

Awareness raising, consensus building and advocacy

• Building consensus on regional issues and policies affecting animal genetic resources

• Promoting awareness of animal genetic resources issues within regional organizations and forums
• Strengthening the voice for the region in international discussions on animal genetic resources management

FAO supports the establishment of regional or sub-regional focal points - and supports existing focal points - by providing advice and organizing workshops.

Further information on the establishment and operation of regional focal points can be found in the following publications:

• Developing the institutional framework for the management of animal genetic resources
• Draft guidelines for the development of regional focal points
• A regional focal point for the management of farm animal genetic resources: the European experience

Regional discussion networks

The Domestic Animal Diversity Network (DAD-Net), an e-mail based discussion network operated by FAO, has subgroups for:

• Asia and the Pacific;
• Latin America and Caribbean;
• North Africa;
• West and Central Africa; and
• Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Russian speaking).