Strengthening Partnerships for PPR Eradication: The PPR Program's Presence at Africa Agri Expo 2026

The Africa Agri Expo 2026, held alongside the Future Food, Livestock and Poultry Expo 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, from February 11 to 12, 2026, opened with a clear message: transforming African agri-food systems will require not only ambition but also coordinated action among public decision-makers, research institutions, the private sector, and investors.

By bringing together government leaders, continental institutions, research organizations, and private sector players, the opening session presented the summit's theme "Promoting the transformation of agri-food and livestock systems in Africa through innovation, technology, investment, and sustainability" as both an opportunity and a shared responsibility.

At the heart of these discussions, the African Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), through its Continental PPR Eradication Program, actively participated in the "9th Africa Agri Expo, 2nd Future Food, Livestock & Poultry Expo." This involvement highlights AU-IBAR's ongoing commitment to coordinating and supporting the efforts of Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and technical partners in implementing the Pan-African PPR Eradication Strategy.

Image

In her keynote, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, highlighted the scale of opportunity within Africa's animal resources sector. Livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture already contribute significantly to livelihoods and economic output, yet productivity gaps, disease burdens, and infrastructure deficits limit their performance. She referenced continental commitments under the Kampala CAADP Declaration, including strengthened SPS systems, improved disease surveillance, enhanced vaccine production, investment in feed and genetics, and sustainable fisheries management. Programmes such as the Pan-African PPR Eradication initiative illustrate growing coordination to protect livelihoods and strengthen regional trade systems.

The PPR project was represented on-site by Senior PPR Expert Dr. Andrea Massarelli, who seized the opportunity at the expo to engage with numerous stakeholders, forge new relationships, explore partnership opportunities, and contribute to resource mobilization efforts for the Program's benefit. "This expo was an invaluable platform to showcase our progress in PPR eradication, connect with potential partners, and reinforce the program's role in building resilient livestock systems across Africa," said Dr. Massarelli. This presence helped showcase the Program's progress and priorities while reinforcing PPR as a continental priority for livestock system resilience.

Through the PPR Program, AU-IBAR continues to advance key actions in strengthening veterinary services, regional and continental coordination, strategic advocacy and partner mobilization, as well as technical support to countries in implementing their National Strategic Plans.

This expo provided a prime opportunity to share AU-IBAR's vision and mission through the PPR project, reaffirming the African Union's continental leadership in the fight against PPR and its commitment to food security, protecting the livelihoods of smallholder producers, and sustainably transforming Africa's livestock sector.

"As PPR Coordinator, I reaffirm our commitment to eradicating this devastating disease through strategic partnerships and continental coordination, with events like this expo accelerating our shared progress toward a PPR-free Africa."Dr Jean Marc FEUSSOM PPR Coordinator