Accelerating PPR Eradication in West Africa-Stakeholder Dialogue on Cross-border Strategies, Lessons Learned, and SPS Compliance
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 12-15 August 2025, the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR),the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Pan African Vaccine Centre of the African Union (AU-PANVAC) and the Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC/ECOWAS) convened the first West Africa Regional PPR Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abidjan to accelerate the fight against transboundary animal diseases under the theme: Accelerating PPR Eradication in West Africa - Stakeholder Dialogue on Cross-border Strategies, Lessons Learned, and SPS Compliance.
The overarching objective was strengthen stakeholder ownership of PPR eradication by raising awareness of the Pan-African Programme, promoting SPS standards to enhance livestock trade, and leveraging lessons from cross-border vaccination to improve coordination, tools, and technical approaches.
Delegates from 15 Ecowas member states adopted a concrete work plan 2025, validated technical strategies, and strengthened regional coordination frameworks to eradicate PPR by 2030. Beyond PPR, the meeting also advanced measures for the control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), underlining the region’s determination to reinforce resilience in animal health systems.
As a direct result of these collaborative efforts, the high-level workshop resulted in harmonized vaccination protocols for high-risk zones, stronger cross-border coordination and surveillance, improved monitoring frameworks for accountability, and a regional communication plan to enhance visibility and stakeholder engagement.
Participants stressed the importance of unity, urgency, and shared responsibility. In this context,
Ms. Djarassouba Aïda Kaly, representing Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources. “The fight is within our reach. ECOWAS has begun the process, and our countries are technically prepared. The only obstacle is funding, and together, we will overcome it.”
Speaking on behalf of the African Union's Pan-African Vaccination Centre, Dr Charles Bodjo recommended the use of high-quality vaccines for the successful eradication of PPR. Hence his call for the mobilisation of resources to purchase these vaccines as part of the organization of vaccination campaigns in order to reach more animals. He added that the necessary tools for disease surveillance, specifically tests, are needed and AU-PANVAC has made available the HPPR-bELISA for the surveillance and seromonitoring of PPR vaccination campaigns.
Dr. Hiver Boussini, representing AU-IBAR Director reaffirmed “Let Abidjan be remembered as the place where West Africa confirmed its leadership and accelerated its march toward PPR eradication for the benefit of our herders, our markets, and our regional integration.
The workshop which was organised across four intensive days,opened with addresses and a review of regional strategies and country presentaions from Benin, Cape Verde and Cote d’Ivoire.Day 2 focused on countries presentations from The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, , , Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Mali , On Day 3, delegates drafted a clear 2025 regional work plan and validated harmonised vaccination and surveillance tools. Finally, Day 4 concluded with the formal adoption of the roadmap, including Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) control strategies and follow-up arrangements.
Moreover, following the presentations and discussions, participants concluded the meeting by reaffirming that eradicating PPR by 2030 is both technically feasible and politically achievable provided that funding gaps are bridged and strong cooperation is maintained. To this end, they agreed on a set of priority recommendations. To Member States:
- Mobilise domestic funding by securing national budget allocations, in line with the Nairobi Agreement.
- Conduct synchronised vaccination campaigns beginning January 2026;
- Ensure gender and youth integration in at least 70% of programmes to strengthen community ownership.
For AU-IBAR and the Regional Animal Health Centre (CRSA/ECOWAS):
- Establish operational Cross-Border Animal Health Working Groups in 80% of priority borders by June 2026.
- Enhance laboratory diagnostic capacity by 2026 to meet RT-PCR standards.
- Provide targeted technical and financial support to Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and Cape Verde, based on epidemiological needs.
Throughout, this milestone event was made possible thanks to the generous financial support of the European Union, whose long-standing partnership with AU-IBAR is pivotal in advancing the Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR (PAPS). Throughout the meeting, the European Union’s leadership and financial support were repeatedly highlighted as pivotal in driving the regional PPR agenda forward. The EU has committed resources to update National Strategic Plans, support epidemiological studies, and strengthen regional coordination frameworks.
Furthermore, additional technical and financial contributions from FAO, WOAH, PANVAC ,Swiss Cooperation, and VSF International pledged their continued commitment to providing technical assistance and financial backing to ensure that West Africa remains firmly on track towards the global and continental goal of eradicating PPR by 2030.
Dr. Perdita Hilary Lopes, the newly recruited Regional PPR Coordinator for West Africa, was instrumental in coordinating and providing technical backstopping for the meeting, working closely with Regional Animal Health colleagues and the PAPs Secretariat. Her follow-up actions included compiling and sharing the comprehensive meeting report with participants and supporting Cape Verde’s dossier preparation for WOAH.
Dr Kallo Vessaly, Director of Veterinary Services at the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources, of the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources, welcomed the meeting, which aims to identify the main challenges and opportunities in implementing the regional strategy for the eradication of PPR in West Africa in general, and those related to coordination, vaccination campaigns and the harmonisation of interventions in cross-border areas in particular.
In conclusion, the Abidjan meeting marks a decisive milestone in Africa’s journey toward the eradication of PPR. By combining political will with technical expertise, West Africa has set forth a concrete and actionable roadmap anchored in solidarity, inclusivity, and accountability. The region has clearly demonstrated that eradicating PPR by 2030 is not only technically feasible but also politically achievable.