Nairobi, September 20, 2019: COMESA has endorsed the Animal Health Strategy for Africa (AHSA) which was formulated by the African Union -Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

The strategy aims at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the livestock sector and to promote investments, coordination of efforts, partnerships and multi-sectoral/multidisciplinary approaches to addressing animal health issues on the continent.

This endorsement was made last month in Kenya during the AU-IBAR workshop for members of the Continental Animal Health Platform in Africa (CAHP-Africa), which COMESA subscribes.

Themed ‘One Voice to Catalyse Equitable Growth of the Livestock Sector’ the workshop was also intended to enhance harmonization and coordination for implementation of key livestock policies, legal and investment frameworks on the continent.

In addition to the strategy, the participants also endorsed the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Implementation Plan. These will now be submitted to the Scientific Technical Committee at the African Union Commission (AUC) for consideration before subsequent approval by the Executive Committee at the next AU Summit.

The forum brought together over 30 multiple stakeholders drawn from Member/Partners States in regional organizations including COMESA, the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community for Central African States (ECCAS) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Agriculture Economist Mr. Joel Okwir, represented COMESA at the workshop. In his report, Okwir said drafting of the biennial publication of the State of Animal Health in Africa (SAHA) was initiated.

“The biennial publication will provide general information and in-depth analyses of selected themes in Animal health in Africa to support decision-making for priority actions,” Mr Okwir said.

The Director of AU-‐IBAR Professor Ahmed Elsawalhy noted that the Animal Health Strategy for Africa articulates the animal health component of Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA) by providing a shared vision of animal health interventions on the continent.

“AHSA aims at enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency and promotes investments, coordination of efforts, partnerships which is needed in Africa,” he told the delegates adding that Continental Animal Health Platform in Africa was instituted to support the implementation of animal strategy.