Seventh Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Africa (SC7)Nairobi, 16th – 17th July 2012

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Establishment of Integrated Regional Coordination Mechanisms for the Prevention and Control of

TADs and Zoonoses in Africa (IRCM) and OH Approach in Africa

– AN UPDATE

Samuel Muriuki

AU-IBAR

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Content

• Introduction

• Background

• Approach and Strategy

• Key Achievements

• Lessons Learned and Best Practice

• Next Steps

• Conclusions

Introduction

• The Integrated Regional Coordination Mechanism for the Prevention and Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases and Zoonoses (IRCM) is a strategic framework developed by the AU-IBAR and DSA of the AUC, in collaboration with RECs, FAO, OIE and the WHO-AFRO

• Its aim is to strengthen technical and coordination capacities of AU MSs and RECs secretariats in the fight against TADs and zoonoses in line with the integration agenda of the AU

• It is conceptualized as a business process model (rather than an institutional structure) and is aligned to relevant AU & global strategies

• The IRCM is Africa’s platform for the promotion of the integrated approach; including One Health approach, in the management of TADs and zoonoses

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Background• Africa perhaps bears the greatest burden of infectious

diseases globally

• Despite having many/programs actors on the ground, most initiatives on the management of these diseases collapse soon after expiry of donor funding due to lack of ownership & embedment into existing institutional structures among others– IRCM is thus, linked to AU institutional architecture to stem this gap

• The IRCM is built on experiences from previous work to bridge observed sustainability gaps by strengthening involvement of African institutions & stakeholders

• It is therefore AU’s home-grown solution to the heavy burden of TADs & Zoonoses

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Background2

• This approach is in tandem with sustainable development approach and the approach of global development partners (Paris Declaration)

• All friends of Africa should rally behind this framework to ameliorate it and infuse the resources required for its operationalization

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Approach & Strategy – The Gaps• Formulation of the IRCM has been informed by a rapid

assessment of the relevant coordination & technical capacities of RECs & MSs

• Key findings of the assessment revealed the following;• Poor performance of the majority of Africa’s

veterinary services on all PVS criteria

• Absence of and weak coordination mechanisms at REC secretariat level

• Weak coordination and collaboration among sectors and actors in TADs and zoonoses

• Opportunities to mainstream TADs and zoonoses management exists at various levels

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Approach & Strategy - Operationalization

• The IRCM thus, adopts a pragmatic approach involving technical capacity building for relevant sectors in accordance with international stds, support to the establishment and operationalization of effective coordination mechanisms at REC secretariats

• Additional areas of investment include strengthening stakeholder and resource mobilization, networking & inter-sectoral collaboration by promoting the OH approach

• RECs are the primary implementers with the support of AUC offices and international partners

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Approach and Strategy – Sectoral Integration• .

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Approach and Strategy – Geographic & Institutional Integration

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To ensure sustainability and mainstreaming with long term institutional structures, the IRCM is aligned to and operationalized through the integration structures of the African Union (RECs). This will also ensure political support and access to internal resources

Achievements• Operationalization of the IRCM started in 2011 with

a discussion of the final framework and the way forward with technical partners (FAO, OIE, WHO)– Workshop was attended by key partners and reached a

consensus on the way forward

• The immediate focus has been;– To support and strengthen fledging coordination mechanisms

and initiate establishment where none exist– To develop REC specific IRCM implementation and resource

mobilization plans

– To advocate/sensitize and establish foundational capacity for adoption of the One Health approach at national and regional levels

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Achievements2

• Implementation planning– Planning sessions have been conducted in 4 RECs in which draft

implementation plans developed.

• The SADC plan is finalized and resource mobilization is underway

• Implementation plans for IGAD, EAC and ECCAS are yet to be endorsed by stakeholders (finalized)

• Support to existing Coord Mechanisms/Networks– Support has been granted to the SADC epidemiology and informatics and

Lab and diagnostics committees of the LTC to hold their regular meetings

• Harmonization of regional surveillance & diagnostic procedures, capacity building of laboratories and disease control strategies were discussed

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Achievements3

• One Health Advocacy and Capacity Building– AU-IBAR in collaboration with USAID RESPOND and institutional partners

has undertaken preliminary training and advocacy on the One Health approach

• Livestock, wildlife and human health professionals from 20 countries have been trained on practical OH advocacy

• Additional training sessions are planned in the near future

• All trained persons are being linked to a continental network on One Health (OHNETA) currently under establishment

• Network is to be animated through regular meetings and electronic discussion for a

– AU-IBAR has nominated a focal point for OH

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Achievements4OHNETA - growth

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1st training - Rwanda 2nd training - Ghana

Achievements5• Establishment of new Coordination Mechanisms

– ECCAS and IGAD have no coordination mechanisms in the animal resources sector

– Efforts to support their establishment have been initiated

– Specific recommendations have been made to the ECCAS SG while efforts to establish the IGAD Center for Pastoralism and Livestock Production are ongoing. A specific program (AU-IBAR) has been developed with the support of USAID (SMP – AH) to support the establishment of standardized methods for disease prevention and control in the IGAD region in accordance with the IRCM

– Discussions underway to establish wildlife/strengthen wildlife health component in existing committees in the SADC, and establish a OH/strengthen VPH sub-committee

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Challenges

• The process of developing REC specific implementation plans has been slow due to its highly participatory nature and reliance on limited internal resources– Efforts to mobilize resources from external sources to sufficiently

finance IRCM roll-out are ongoing.

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Lessons Learned• The IRCM framework is designed to deliver outputs of a

global public good nature, and also addresses an essential sector in the fight against poverty and food insecurity in Africa

– Development and technical partners should thus, find favour and invest in the IRCM to ensure expeditious full operationalization to avoid expectation fatigue/frustration.

– The IRCM should be the beneficiary of the global resources set aside for the management of TADs and zoonoses in Africa

Best Practice

• Development and establishment of the IRCM attracted the interest, participation and commitment of key technical institutions in the animal and human health domains, RECs and MSs and the African Union Commission. This gives the approach a formidable foundation to address TADs and zoonoses and assure sustainability of the outputs delivered– All actors should therefore have confidence to invest

in the framework as it meets the key success criteria for development programming (Paris Declaration)

Next Steps• Sustain inception/advocacy with RECs and

other stakeholders for the mainstreaming of efforts on TADs and zoonoses control through the IRCM framework

• Finalize REC specific implementation plans

• Undertake REC specific diseases prioritization and develop strategies/programs for their management

• Mobilize resources for the execution of IRCM in the medium term

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Conclusions1• For the first time, a promising framework capable

of uniting all actors in the delivery of support to the prevention and progressive control of TADs and zoonoses has been developed for & on the African continent– The remaining challenge is now for sector players to join

hands and embrace this development to stem the old tradition of wastage of aid resources due to lack of harmony, synergy, duplication and cocooning

– AU-IBAR is ready and willing to work with all players in the relevant sectors to roll back the burden of TADs and zoonoses in line with the IRCM strategic framework

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Conclusions2• Like any other development endeavour, the

sustainability of efforts to prevent and control TADs in Africa will depend on effective stakeholder participation, entrenchment in local institutions and local ownership; – The IRCM offers opportunity for the sustainable

management of TADs and zoonoses and is an excellent platform for the operationalization of global strategies on TADs and zoonoses e.g. GF-TADs on the African continent.

– The IRCM should be adopted as the implementation platform the GF-TADs in Africa

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Conclusion3• There is evidence of a gradual but noticeable

alignment of recent actions with the IRCM approach by some key actors on the African Continent– This is encouraged and supported; and actors are encouraged to

as much as practicable, embrace institutional capacity building for sustainability

– Key actors and stakeholders are also encouraged to align relevant future programs/projects in Africa with the IRCM framework to create momentum around sustainable capacity building aligned with the continental integration agenda

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Acknowledgments• We are grateful for the support of the Director AU-IBAR,

Regional Economic Communities and partners especially USAID RESPOND project and its institutional partners (RVC, FAO, Tufts University, etc) and the African Union Commission for unwavering support to the IRCM

• The collaboration and support of FAO, OIE and WHO-AFRO in the development of the IRCM is gratefully acknowledged. By sticking together we shall overcome Africa’s heavy disease burden and the technical lethargy of responsible departments

Thank you

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