Regional Animal Health Center (RAHC) for Southern Africa
Introduction
The establishment of the RAHC reflects a common will of OIE of FAO to pursue a long-standing collaboration developed because of the complementary of their mandates in the field of animal health in Africa.
January 2006: the 2nd international Conference on HPAI in Beijing (China) recommends the establishment of Regional Animal Health Centers. February 2006: The 1st outbreak of HPAI in Africa is reported in the north of Nigeria. April 2006: These events lead the 3 institutions to set up the first Regional Animal Health Center(RAHC), in Bamako, as a technical coordination platform. June 2007: FAO joins the OIE Sub-Regional Representation for Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana. February 2008: AU-IBAR, by means of the SPINAP-AHI Regional Coordinator, joins FAO and OIE at the OIE Sub-Regional Representation for Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana. February 2009 : The FAO - OIE Agreement to establish the RAHC for Southern Africa is signed by the Director-General of the OIE, Dr. Bernard Vallat and the Assistant Director-General of the FAO, Dr. Modibo Traoré.
Background
In 2003 OIE and the SADC Secretariat signed an agreement to cooperate in the field of animal health and welfare. As a result of this agreement, OIE and SADC signed a Grant Contribution Agreement under a SADC - EDF programme, which entered into force in March 2005, to establish the OIE Sub-Regional Representation (SRR) for Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana.
The FAO, through its Country Representations, and the Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa, based in Harare, Zimbabwe, has a long-standing track record of interventions in SADC Member States, in the field of animal diseases control and other areas including management of farm animal genetic resources.
In 2004 FAO and the OIE signed an agreement setting up the GF-TADs (Global Forum for the progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases), which is designed to combine the experience and expertise of the two organisations in the progressive control and prevention of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) and related zoonoses so as to strengthen the capacities of countries and help them establish control programmes for specific TADs according to the priorities in each region.
The GF-TADs agreement enables the participation of regional (African) specialised organisations (RSOs), as well as the establishment of (sub) regional support units (RSUs). The establishment of Regional Animal Health Centres (RAHCs) is in line with these objectives and also with the recommendations presented at the first international HPAI Pledging Conference, held in Beijing in January 2006.
The SADC GF-TADs is one such programme to be developed for priority diseases in the southern African region. This sub-regional GF-TADs framework is in line with the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the SADC Member States' Chief Veterinary Officers' strategy for a regional approach to coordinated and harmonised animal health and welfare activities in line with Pretoria, 2003 and Ngurdoto, 2007 meetings.
The complementary nature of the mandates implemented by the OIE and the FAO in particular to improve animal health and welfare in the SADC region necessitates these two organisations to collaborate and work with the SADC Secretariat and SADC Member States to improve sanitary conditions thereby contributing to food security and wealth creation. The creation of a Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC) for Southern Africa is regarded as a sustainable collaborative mechanism, which is ultimately to be maintained within the framework of the SADC GF-TADs.
Re-occurrence of TADs like FMD, ND, CBPP, RVF ASF, and AHS in the SADC Member States over the past five years, and the high risk of exotic diseases and zoonoses such as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) being introduced into SADC Member States is the basis for the two organizations (OIE and FAO) to draw up a formal agreement to establish the Gaborone-based Regional Animal Health Centre for Southern Africa.
Purpose
The parties of this Agreement have established the OIE/FAO Regional Animal Health Centre for Southern Africa. The purpose of the OIE/FAO RAHC is to provide a framework for the coordination and harmonisation of strategies for the prevention and control of TADs (initially with particular emphasis on HPAI). Within this framework, the combined expertise of the partner organisations will be made available to SADC Member States and the SADC Secretariat. The Center is located in the offices of the OIE Sub-Regional Representation for Southern Africa in Gaborone, Botswana.
Modus operandi
The parties to this Agreement within the Center maintain their core mandate and implement their respective projects and programmes, while avoiding gaps and duplications. Collaborative activities shall be drawn up as common projects upon request or identified needs. Synergies between the mandate and activities of the OIE and the FAO in the SADC Member States will be identified and project proposals on issues within the organisations' capacities shall be prepared and submitted for funding. The parties signatory to the establishment of the Centre undertake to share all relevant information concerning the fulfilment of this joint mission. The OIE Sub Regional Representation for Southern Africa will provide permanent secretariat for the Centre. As appropriate, representatives of the parties shall meet to evaluate the implementation of this Agreement.
Distribution of roles between the institutions
Taking into account the inherent experience of each of the institutions which are signatories to this Agreement, flexible orientations have been selected regarding their special areas of intervention and their areas of added value.
Special areas of intervention of the OIE
Audit and evaluation of the Veterinary Services to help SADC Member States and donor agencies to target their investments in the field of animal health and welfare Training of SADC OIE Delegates, their deputies and National OIE Focal Points, i.e. SADC OIE Subject Matter Specialists Actions aimed at improving sanitary notifications. Dissemination of animal health and welfare information to the relevant stakeholders Harmonisation and technical monitoring of emergency response plans and simulation exercises. Harmonisation of import – export certifications/conditions for animals and animal products Upgrading of selected veterinary laboratories and sanitary institutions to OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres
Special areas of intervention of the FAO
Investigations into the role of migratory birds and other epidemiological factors involved in the spread of notifiable avian influenza and other transboundary animal diseases. Training in laboratory diagnosis and support for regional networks of laboratories and epidemiological surveillance teams Support for feasibility studies for national and regional investment programmes Provision of technical assistance, both for the Centre and at a national level to support implementation of programmes and or projects Support the development of national and regional transboundary animal diseases control policies and strategies, with particular emphasis on HPAI.
Common areas of intervention
Support definition of disease control policies and strategies Preparation of investment programmes for sustainable strengthening of Veterinary Services Promotion of increased public and private investments in Veterinary Services Preparation of specific regional animal health and welfare programmes Support capacity building for laboratories in the SADC region Dissemination of technical information to stakeholders within the SADC region Public awareness, information and communication Monitoring and evaluation of actions / activities Harmonisation of epizootic emergency response plans Promote increased awareness and preparedness for emerging diseases Networking and exchange of data and information with other regions and other parts of the world Support for the development of control programmes for transboundary animal diseases and their sub-regional and regional coordination, and for associated training
These interventions will contribute to the achievements of the specificities and priorities of the SADC region, as defined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and they will assist the FANR Directorate of the SADC Secretariat to achieve its objectives. The FANR Directorate will forward specific recommendations of the RAHC to the appropriate bodies of SADC for adoption
AHS African horse sickness ALIVE Partnership for Livestock Development, Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable growth ASF African swine fever AU/IBAR African Union / Inter-african Bureau for Animal Resources CBPP Contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia EDF European Development Fund FANR Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate (SADC) FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations FMD Food and mouth disease GF-TAD Global Forum for the progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (OIE-FAO) HPAI Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza LPAI Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza ND Newcastle disease OIE World Organisation for Animal Health RAHC Regional Animal Health Center RISDP Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan RSO Regional Specialised Organisation(s) RSU Regional Support Unit(s) RVF Rift valley fever SADC Southern African Development Community SPINAP - AHI Support Programme for Integrated National Action Plans for Animal and Human Influenza (AU-IBAR) TAD Transboundary Animal Disease
(c) OIE / P. Bastiaensen (2009)
OIE
Sub-Regional Representative
Permanent Secretary of the RAHC
Further information on the RAHC's in Africa
