Connecting veterinary professionals worldwide: ProgRESSVet alumni join FAO's ICT Community of Practice

As the alumni base expanded, maintaining engagement across regions and training cohorts became increasingly challenging. Communication remained limited to individual cohort groups, and graduates – often senior staff with demanding roles – lacked a common platform to stay connected and continue exchanging knowledge.  

Recognizing this gap, the ProgRESSVet team sought a sustainable solution that would support alumni networking, knowledge exchange, and long-term professional development. 

The integration of ProgRESSVet alumni into the FAO One Health Knowledge Nexus ICT Community of Practice (CoP) emerged as a natural extension of existing collaboration and trust between the teams. The CoP provides a space for professionals working or interested in One Health to learn, share and exchange knowledge and experiences. 

To reflect on this collaboration, we invited Professor Andres M. Perez, Director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) collaborating centre and an FAO reference centre), at the University of Minnesota, and Dr Mary Katherine O’Brien, Researcher for Education and Outreach of the same institution. 

How did the partnership come about? 

As an FAO reference centre for veterinary public health, ProgRESSVet saw added value in linking alumni to a global FAO platform, providing visibility and facilitating engagement with ongoing One Health and digital public health initiatives. 

What have been the results so far? 

We are already seeing several positive outcomes from integrating the alumni into the CoP. First, there is much more cross-cohort and cross-regional interaction. Alumni who previously had no way to connect beyond their own group are now engaging in shared discussions across continents. 

We are also noticing the early emergence of collegial networks. Many of the initial exchanges are social, but they are helping build the peer-to-peer relationships that are essential for future technical collaboration. 

Another benefit is increased visibility for the alumni. In several countries, participants have told us that being connected to a FAO-supported community strengthens their professional reporting and institutional recognition. 

Finally, we are beginning to see the rise of a few alumni champions who are taking initiative in the space. They are contributing actively to discussions and helping complement the conversations that the ProgRESSVet team is currently seeding. 

What factors enabled the collaboration? 

A few key factors made this collaboration possible. First, there was already a strong foundation of trust between the ProgRESSVet team and the ICT CoP. That existing relationship made coordination straightforward and efficient. 

Second, both sides approached the process with flexibility. We were able to shape the subgroup around the actual needs of the alumni and the goals of the programme, rather than forcing it into a predefined structure. 

Third, the FAO CoP provided a reliable platform and solid logistical support. This made onboarding easy and kept the administrative burden low for everyone involved. 

And finally, clear, consistent communication between the teams helped maintain momentum and ensured that expectations were aligned from the start. 

Together, these conditions created a very supportive environment for launching the subgroup and helped it gain traction quickly.

The aim is to enable alumni to draw value from the CoP not only socially, but as a platform for technical exchange and collective problem-solving. 

The integration of ProgRESSVet alumni into the FAO ICT CoP represents a practical and cost-effective approach to sustaining the impact of capacity development investments. By providing a shared, FAO-supported space for continued engagement, the collaboration enhances peer networks, strengthens knowledge exchange, and reinforces the long-term development of national veterinary services.