This event brought together key stakeholders from across the Africa region to strategize, collaborate, and share insights on enhancing animal health systems and global health security.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the 8th Regional Meeting (AfREM) of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Africa, which took place from 23 to 26 April 2024 in Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania. This significant gathering brought together key stakeholders from across the region to strategize, collaborate, and share insights on enhancing animal health systems and global health security.

The 8^th AfREM served as a critical platform for fostering collaboration, sharing experiences, and advancing initiatives aimed at strengthening animal health systems and addressing transboundary animal diseases across the African continent. The inaugural AfREM was hosted by FAO in Dakar, Senegal, in July 2016, and since then, the event has served to review ECTAD program implementation and achievements, and contributions to FAO animal health, AMR and One Health programs in the region.

This year's meeting held special significance as it marked twenty years since the establishment of ECTAD, which has evolved to become a critical component of FAO's mission to prevent and respond to health threats and antimicrobial resistance in Africa. The expansion of ECTAD's geographical coverage to 25 countries in Africa also underscores its growing influence and impact in the region. Attendees included FAO ECTAD teams from Africa and the Near East (Jordan) and North Africa (Egypt), regional teams, FAO headquarters staff, and representatives from other FAO regional offices (Central Europe, Asia).

This 8^th AfREM aimed to promote teamwork, share experiences, and ensure a common understanding of ECTAD's programmatic framework. Participants engaged in discussions to improve coordination, integration with other animal health programs, and contributed to achieving the FAO strategic framework (2022-31). The meeting agenda included deliberations on communication strategies, outreach plans, and measures to improve visibility and forge partnerships with relevant institutions

"We are excited to host the 8th Regional Meeting of FAO ECTAD Africa in Zanzibar," said FAO Representative in Tanzania, Nyabenyi Tipo, "This gathering presents a unique opportunity to foster collaboration, share best practices, and chart the way forward for strengthening animal health systems in Africa."

Key Recommendations:

Recommendations stemming from the meeting included strengthening alignment with regional, subregional, and country priorities, enhancing monitoring, evaluation, and reporting mechanisms, improving communication and visibility strategies, fostering strategic collaborations, and addressing operational challenges effectively through collaborative problem-solving approaches.

The celebration of AfREM 2024 underscored FAO's commitment to promoting global health security and enhancing the capacity of animal health systems to prevent and respond to health threats and antimicrobial resistance in Africa.

Know more on:

Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases global website 

Contact:

Yanira Santana

Emergency Reporting and Outreach Specialist

FAO ECTAD Africa

[email protected]