CAIRO, EGYPT 18-21 JUNE 2012

The strategic goal of the Vet-GOV project is to bring about institutional strengthening of veterinary services towards (i) the establishment of adequate veterinary services at the national level (ii) strengthening regional institutions to play their roles of coordination, harmonization, integration and support to countries with the aim to stimulate a more conducive environment for public and private investments in the livestock sector.The Workshop aimed at raising awareness among policy makers, civil society organizations and other stakeholders on the need to promote the formulation and implementation of sound livestock policies for economic growth, food security, enhanced livelihoods, environmental protection and stakeholders' resilience. The target groups of this Workshop were the heads of livestock and veterinary services, national representatives of farmers associations, representatives of the civil society, and the permanent secretaries in charge of livestock. 34 participants from six countries (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania) were attended the workshop.

Group photo of the Workshop participants

The overall objective of the Stakeholders Workshop was to have a better understanding of the "Reinforcing Veterinary Governance in Africa" Programme and pave the way for the improvement of livestock and related policies, animal health strategies and veterinary legislations in the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA) and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) regions.

Mrs. Florencia Cipriano, the Deputy Regional Representative for Africa of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) presented an overview of the OIE and its mandate that evolved from preventing the spread of animal diseases worldwide and stated that the 5th Strategic Plan (2011-2015) of the OIE includes in its mandate the "improvement of animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare, and to reinforce the inclusion of animal health worldwide. She added that good Governance of veterinary services takes place through the implementation of an effective OIE Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) pathway and capacity building programmes directed to national policy makers in veterinary policies will continue to be organized by the OIE during the coming years.

Dr Kamel Metiass, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Research Center the representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Arab Republic of Egypt, welcomed the organizers and participants of the Workshop

Dr. Mohamed Bengoumi, the Regional Animal Production and Health Officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in his welcome remarks presented an overview of FAO and FAO's activities in the region. He emphasized that FAO, together with the implementing partners AU-IBAR and the OIE, will work tirelessly to contribute to the achievement of these objectives. He added that FAO will also support the strengthening of regional networks (epidemiology, laboratory, socio-economics, etc.) and explore their sustainability together with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and concluded that this Workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn from each other about the objectives of the VET-GOV Programme, the roles and responsibilities of each of the implementing partners and the status of livestock policies and animal health legislation in northern African countries and plan together results to be achieved in the years to come.

The Chairman of the Egyptian Veterinary Union awarded the Union Medal to Prof El-Sawalhy for efforts exerted

Professor Ahmed El-Sawalhy, the Director of AU-IBAR, in his welcome remarks presented an overview of the VET-GOV Programme, and AU-IBAR as the technical office of the African Union Commission in the field of animal resources in Africa, supporting and enabling Member States and RECs in the development, implementation and support of strategies for the promotion and development of livestock. He added that this Workshop was planned to discuss one of the most important activities of the VET-GOV Programme in order to raise awareness among stakeholders in the field of animal health policies and strategies for livestock policy makers, civil society and representatives of organizations and agencies.

Workshop deliberations

The Workshop brought together stakeholders from different backgrounds in the countries of the Arab Maghreb Union and the countries of the Community of Sahel and Sahara, and presented activities and experiences and shared lessons learned with others. Prof. El-Sawalhy concluded that the results of the Workshop will improve the institutional performance of veterinary services and the basis for the participation of stakeholders to achieve efficiency in the veterinary services.

After two days of presentations, discussions, group work and deliberations, the following issues were achieved:

• Stakeholders have gained a better understanding of the VET-GOV Programme.

• Stakeholders have created synergy among themselves.

• Stakeholders shared experiences on livestock sector developments and challenges.

• Stakeholders have enhanced ownership of the Programme and boosted its participatory implementation.

• Stakeholders have identified pilot (priority) activities.

• Stakeholders have begun preliminary analysis of baseline data.

• Stakeholders agree on the workplan and respective roles and responsibilities.