Animal Health Strategy for Africa (AHSA) 2019-2035.

This Animal Health Strategy for Africa is a multilateral document aiming at contributing to improved animal and public health, food safety, food and nutrition security, improved livelihoods, protection of the environment and sustainable economic growth by providing a framework for delivering a sustainable animal health system in Africa that meets World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and other relevant global standards. The Strategy adopts an integrated and holistic approach for the improvement of animal health systems, given the impact of animal diseases on the competitiveness of animal resources value chains, the increasing risk of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, climate change, inadequate environmental management and civil strife and conflict. The main goals are (i) improved capacity to anticipate and mitigate the negative impacts of animal diseases, zoonosis, climate change, and disasters; (ii) improved animal and public health; (iii) improved food safety, nutrition security, animal-dependent livelihoods; (iv) protection of the environment and sustainable economic growth. To achieve its goals, the Strategy focuses on the following objectives (i) strengthen animal health policy and institutional frameworks; (ii) reduce disease risks and impacts on animals, humans and environment; (iii) strengthen animal health interventions to address current and emerging issues of public health concern at the human-animal-environment interfaces; (iv) improve capacities, access to inputs, markets and trade in animal resources; (v) strengthen science, innovation, research and knowledge management; (vi) enhance partnerships, investment and resourcing of the animal health sector.
To improve the animal production, the Strategy envisages the following (i) development and application of technologies that leverage on science and innovation for improvement of animal health systems; (ii) enhancement of capacity to manage animal diseases through (1) biosecurity and adoption of best practices for animal resource management, utilization and welfare under different production systems, (2) disease surveillance and early detection, animal identification and traceability systems, (3) standardized minimum levels of competence for animal health service delivery, (4) strengthened animal health infrastructure and human resource capacities with particular attention to aquatic animals, bees, wildlife and emerging production systems; (iii) enhancement and enforcement of environmental hygiene standards for animal industry operations.
At food and nutrition level, the document mainly focuses on food safety improvement by (i) strengthening safety control systems for animal feeds and foods of animal origin; (ii) supporting the strengthening of capacities of food control agencies; (iii) improved animal health for an improved food safety.
The Strategy aims at protecting the environment by (i) Improving capacity for prevention and disaster risk management at the human-animal-environment interface in line with rural development and biodiversity conservation objectives; (ii) promoting initiatives on sustainable environmental management, the integrity of protected areas in as far as animal health and welfare are concerned; (iii) promoting development and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures; (iv) supporting continental, regional and national initiatives on antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR); (v) promoting initiatives for the environmentally friendly treatment and utilization of animal wastes; (vi) encouraging proper environmental management at all levels of animal value chains.
An inclusive social and economic growth will be achieved by (i) addressing the challenges on delivery of animal health service in a harmonized way within the context of the One-Health approach; (ii) advocating for significant public and private sector investments, stakeholder’s participation, and public-private partnership; (iii) promoting innovative market orientation within the context of a safe environment for animal and human health and improving trade and marketing of animals and animal products through improved health and food safety standards; (iv) enhancing the capacity for animal health policy formulation and implementation at national and regional levels; (v) the establishment of early warning, emergency response mechanisms and disaster fund for animal resources; (vi) the use of indigenous knowledge to enhance animal health and welfare and ecosystems management; (vii) improving access to quality inputs and services along the value chains; (viii) improving harmonization and linkages amongst Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sanitary (SPS) authorities and other stakeholders; (ix) developing appropriate information systems to facilitate knowledge sharing and evidence- based decision making.
As for Governance, the document identifies the following levels of implementation (1) National Level, responsible for mobilizing resources; (2) Regional Level, for coordinating regional resource mobilization for implementation and the integration of monitoring and evaluation of Member States; (3) Continental Level, that provides the broad policy guidelines on the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy and is responsible for its broad revision . It also facilitates resource mobilization from a continental perspective, and the integration of regional monitoring and evaluation reports into a continental report. It coordinates the collaboration with partners and oversee the execution of continental programs and projects.