© 2018 AU-IBAR. Group photo of participants of the Animal Health Strategy for Africa consultative meeting.A consultative forum on Animal Health Strategy for Africa (AHSA) was convened by the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) from 8th-10th May 2018 at Azure Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya in the framework of Live2Africa programme. The overall objective of the workshop was to identify key priority areas and main component of AHSA and discuss the formation of the Continental Network of Public and Private Actors involved in Animal Health in Africa (CAHP-AFRICA).

In his opening remarks the Director of AU-IBAR Prof Ahmed Elsawalhy represented by Dr. Baboucarr Jaw (Chief Animal Health Officer) emphasized that the global aim of developing the AHSA was to provide an overarching strategy to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of interventions in Animal health on the Continent. He said AU-IBAR was committed to creating a platform through which all the efforts/instruments on animal health issues on the continent can be consolidated without compromising or duplication of efforts by partners.

The meeting was organized through sessions of power point presentations, working group and plenary discussions on various issues related to AH. The sessions and topics covered included review of Global and regional Frameworks, analysing the Animal health situation on the Continent, assessing the Capacity building, Research, Collaboration and Coordination efforts and reviewing useful lessons from Livestock keepers and the industry perspectives.

At the end of the workshop the key priority areas, main component and the scope of the strategy were drafted and the road map towards the full completion of AHSA was drafted. The structure, Membership and governance of CAHP-Africa was also agreed upon.

Participants strongly recommended that the AHSA development process started must be carried forward to conclusion as per the road map. They suggested strengthening advocacy on the contribution of animal resources to socio-economic development in order to enhance funding of the sector by Governments. They also appealed to AU-IBAR and its partners (especially the FAO and OIE) to continue supporting coordination, capacity building and technical support for Animal health development on the continent.

The consultative forum was attended by 11 Africa Union Member States (Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Swaziland, Uganda, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe); 7 Regional Economic Communities (RECs) (ECOWAS, EAC, ECCAS, UMA, IGAD, SADC, and COMESA). The meeting also included, Representatives from FAO, OIE, ILRI, University of Nairobi, EISMV (Senegal), Institut Agronomique Veterinaire Rabat Morocco, Makerere University in Uganda, Africa veterinary technicians association (AVTA), National Agricultural Research Organization, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria South Africa, Africa-CDC, Veterinary Associations from Kenya and Uganda, an Expert on Veterinary Statutory Boards, VSF Switzerland, Veterinary Epidemiology and Laboratory Networks for Central, East, Southern and West Africa; livestock keepers, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and AU-IBAR staff.

The Pan-African Support to the AU-IBAR for a Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa "Live2Africa" programme is coordinated by AU-IBAR in collaboration with the RECs with funding from European Union (EU). The programme aims to strengthen systemic capacity of continental, regional and national livestock sector institutions and stakeholders to support transformation of the African livestock sector for enhanced contribution to environmentally sustainable, climate resilient, socio-economic development and equitable growth.