Background

On 30 April 2007, AU/IBAR and the European Commission signed a Euro 21.5 million partnership agreement for a period of 36 months.

The agreement concerns the implementation of the Support Programme to Integrated National Action Plans for Avian and Human Influenza (SPINAP-AHI) which is specifically geared towards addressing the prevention and control of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in both animals and humans.

Objectives
SPINAP's overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of the socioeconomic impact of Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) and the potential loss of human life by assisting ACP countries in Africa with the preparation against and control of AHI in animals as well as preparing for a possible human influenza pandemic.

Purpose
SPINAP's purpose is to strengthen national capacity to prevent and control AHI. The purpose will be achieved by focussing on financial support and expertise to eligible ACP countries in Africa prioritising the implementation of Integrated Country Actions Plans (IAP) for avian and human influenza. As decided during the Beijing Conference, this includes support to mandated international and regional organisations for technical assistance, co-ordination and support activities.

In the short to medium term, this will involve strengthening national institutional capacity with the aim of controlling avian influenza and ensuring a rapid response to assure the containment of human cases of the disease. For the longer term, sector reforms and better awareness of the importance of zoonotic diseases will lead to improved strategies to fight zoonoses and better preparedness for emerging ones.