Nepal graduates its first cohort of veterinarians trained in field epidemiology to strengthen animal disease surveillance
Participants of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme for Veterinarians (FETPV) engage in group work as part of the training
©FAO Nepal
08/04/2025
Thirteen government veterinarians from across Nepal have successfully completed the country’s first basic Field Epidemiology Training Programme for Veterinarians (FETPV), gaining essential skills to support the prevention, detection and response to animal disease outbreaks. This achievement is a direct outcome of investments made through the Pandemic Fund, which has played a crucial role in strengthening Nepal’s veterinary workforce and improving health security.
Conducted from November 2024 to March 2025 in Kathmandu, the training was jointly organized by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and the Agriculture Information and Training Center (AITC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the Pandemic Fund (SPEED) project. This initiative is part of broader efforts to develop a well-trained veterinary workforce capable of addressing both endemic and emerging animal health threats in Nepal.
The FETPV aims to enhance Nepal’s capacity to safeguard animal health and mitigate the risk of zoonotic diseases, thereby contributing to improved national health security. By investing in specialized epidemiological training for veterinarians, the Pandemic Fund is directly strengthening the workforce needed to detect and control infectious disease threats, reducing risks at the animal-human interface.
Strengthening Nepal’s workforce
Field veterinary epidemiology is recognized as a core competency for national veterinary services under the Performance of Veterinary Services evaluation framework. In 2023, an assessment using FAO’s Epidemiology Mapping Tool identified the need to for a structured veterinary field epidemiology training programme in Nepal.
To address identified gaps, FAO, through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), collaborated closely with DLS and AITC to develop a competency-based curriculum tailored to Nepal’s need. Following technical consultations, the training programme was officially endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in September 2024.
The Nepal FETPV follows the approach applied and promoted by FAO across Asia. This approach focuses on competency-based, in-service training that combines classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork. This model was first established through the Regional FETPV in 2009, which has since trained over 200 epidemiologists across 13 countries. Building on this success, FAO continues to support national national FETPVs programmes in countries such as China, Indonesia and now Nepal.
Developing field-ready veterinary professionals
The first cohort included 15 frontline veterinarians from federal, provincial and local levels of government. Thirteen participants successfully completed the programme and graduated in March 2025.
Sabina Lamsal, a Veterinary Officer at the Veterinary Epidemiology Section of the DLS, shared her reflection on the programme. “This training has significantly enhanced my ability to analyze surveillance data, evaluate surveillance systems, visualize spatial data and conduct outbreak investigations of animal diseases. As I work in the epidemiology section, I can directly apply the skills and knowledge I gained during the training to my daily work.”
Anushka Rajbhandari, a Veterinary Officer at Ratnanagar Municipality in Chitwan, added, “In my municipality, I frequently deal with disease outbreaks, including rabies and other infectious animal diseases. Previously, I had limited exposure to outbreak investigations and data analysis. However, the theoretical and hands-on knowledge gained during this training, coupled with mentor-guided fieldwork, has equipped me with the skills and confidence to conduct outbreak investigations and analyze surveillance data effectively.”
These young, well-trained veterinarians will play a vital role in the early detection of animal diseases at the field level for years to come, contributing to food security and the prevention of zoonotic disease transmission.
The need for a skilled veterinary workforce is more pressing than ever, given the emergence of several new and re-emerging high impact diseases, such as African swine fever, lumpy skin disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza. Endemic diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, rabies and peste-des-petits ruminants also continue to pose challenges.
The successful completion of the first FETPV cohort marks a significant milestone in workforce development supported by the Pandemic Fund, ensuring that Nepal is better equipped to respond to animal health threats and enhance public health resilience.
Conducted from November 2024 to March 2025 in Kathmandu, the training was jointly organized by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and the Agriculture Information and Training Center (AITC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the Pandemic Fund (SPEED) project. This initiative is part of broader efforts to develop a well-trained veterinary workforce capable of addressing both endemic and emerging animal health threats in Nepal.
The FETPV aims to enhance Nepal’s capacity to safeguard animal health and mitigate the risk of zoonotic diseases, thereby contributing to improved national health security. By investing in specialized epidemiological training for veterinarians, the Pandemic Fund is directly strengthening the workforce needed to detect and control infectious disease threats, reducing risks at the animal-human interface.
Strengthening Nepal’s workforce
Field veterinary epidemiology is recognized as a core competency for national veterinary services under the Performance of Veterinary Services evaluation framework. In 2023, an assessment using FAO’s Epidemiology Mapping Tool identified the need to for a structured veterinary field epidemiology training programme in Nepal.
To address identified gaps, FAO, through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), collaborated closely with DLS and AITC to develop a competency-based curriculum tailored to Nepal’s need. Following technical consultations, the training programme was officially endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in September 2024.
The Nepal FETPV follows the approach applied and promoted by FAO across Asia. This approach focuses on competency-based, in-service training that combines classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork. This model was first established through the Regional FETPV in 2009, which has since trained over 200 epidemiologists across 13 countries. Building on this success, FAO continues to support national national FETPVs programmes in countries such as China, Indonesia and now Nepal.
Developing field-ready veterinary professionals
The first cohort included 15 frontline veterinarians from federal, provincial and local levels of government. Thirteen participants successfully completed the programme and graduated in March 2025.
Sabina Lamsal, a Veterinary Officer at the Veterinary Epidemiology Section of the DLS, shared her reflection on the programme. “This training has significantly enhanced my ability to analyze surveillance data, evaluate surveillance systems, visualize spatial data and conduct outbreak investigations of animal diseases. As I work in the epidemiology section, I can directly apply the skills and knowledge I gained during the training to my daily work.”
Anushka Rajbhandari, a Veterinary Officer at Ratnanagar Municipality in Chitwan, added, “In my municipality, I frequently deal with disease outbreaks, including rabies and other infectious animal diseases. Previously, I had limited exposure to outbreak investigations and data analysis. However, the theoretical and hands-on knowledge gained during this training, coupled with mentor-guided fieldwork, has equipped me with the skills and confidence to conduct outbreak investigations and analyze surveillance data effectively.”
These young, well-trained veterinarians will play a vital role in the early detection of animal diseases at the field level for years to come, contributing to food security and the prevention of zoonotic disease transmission.
The need for a skilled veterinary workforce is more pressing than ever, given the emergence of several new and re-emerging high impact diseases, such as African swine fever, lumpy skin disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza. Endemic diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, rabies and peste-des-petits ruminants also continue to pose challenges.
The successful completion of the first FETPV cohort marks a significant milestone in workforce development supported by the Pandemic Fund, ensuring that Nepal is better equipped to respond to animal health threats and enhance public health resilience.