Transforming Disease Reporting in West & Central Africa with ARIS-3

Accurate, timely, and harmonised animal health data has become a strategic necessity for Africa’s livestock sector. As the continent advances toward eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030, one of the most devastating transboundary diseases affecting sheep and goats, the demand for modern, integrated information systems is urgent and undeniable.

Recognising this continental priority, AU-IBAR has launched an advanced training cycle on the Animal Resources Information System (ARIS-3), a revitalised digital platform designed to transform how African countries collect, manage, analyse, and use animal health information. The first regional session, taking place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 25–28 November 2025, brings together national experts from West and Central Africa to strengthen their capacity to configure, operationalise, and strategically deploy ARIS-3 within national surveillance and PPR eradication frameworks.

The role of ARIS-3 in PPR and Animal Health Governance

PPR continues to cause severe socio-economic impacts across Africa. Mortality rates can reach 80–100% in infected flocks, contributing to annual losses estimated at US$1.45 billion. More than 300 million people, especially women and youth, rely on small ruminants for food security and income stability.

The eradication of PPR by 2030 hinges on more than vaccines—it requires real-time, multi-sectoral data. ARIS-3 meets this need through:

An intuitive, user-friendly interface
Enhanced analytical capacity and customisable disease modules
Integration of surveillance, production, and trade data
Early outbreak detection tools
Improved interoperability with WOAH’s WAHIS platform

During the opening session, AU-IBAR emphasised that the continent can no longer rely on fragmented systems. Dr Hiver Bousinni, who spoke on behalf of the Director AU-IBAR noted, “The system must be strategically aligned to national, regional, and continental needs so that decisions are based on coherent, high-quality data.”

Representing FAO, Dr Mohamed Sylla, Emergency and Resilience Coordinator, echoed the urgency, stressing that “accurate data is essential for decision-making—countries cannot advance disease control without reliable, harmonised information.”

Building National Capacity: A Practical, Sustainable Approach

The 2025 regional training targets surveillance officers, PPR focal points, epidemiologists, and data managers from ECOWAS and ECCAS Member States. The programme combines online modules, practical assignments, and a four-day intensive workshop.

Participants will strengthen skills in:

System configuration and user administration
Customisation of PPR and TADs data modules
Data validation and reporting workflows
Generating analytical dashboards
Integrating ARIS with WOAH’s WAHIS

Representing the Minister of Animal Resources, Dr Aboubacar NACRO highlighted the importance of this capacity-building approach. He remarked that countries must “build strong national teams capable of managing and sustaining the system, ensuring that ARIS becomes fully functional from national to community levels.”

He further underlined sustainability, noting that “the knowledge gained here must cascade to subnational officers so that data collection remains consistent and reliable.”

How ARIS-3 Strengthens the Drive Toward PPR Eradication

The enhanced ARIS-3 platform provides critical support to PPR eradication efforts by enabling:

Faster detection and response to outbreaks
Data-driven planning of vaccination campaigns
Verification of eradication progress through real-time analytics
Regional harmonisation across ECOWAS and ECCAS
Integrated reporting that links PPR with other priority TADs

Dr Boussini captured this well, emphasising that “the system will allow countries to coordinate more effectively, ensuring that surveillance data flows seamlessly across borders and supports rapid action.”

AU-IBAR’s Continental Leadership in Digital Animal Health Systems

Over the past two decades, AU-IBAR has built progressive continental systems for animal health information management. Key achievements include:

Deployment of ARIS-2 across 48 Member States
Development of ARIS-3 with advanced analytics
Expansion of system modules covering production, trade, and surveillance
Strengthened collaboration with FAO and WOAH for harmonised reporting
Establishment of regional and national ARIS training pathways

The Ouagadougou training represents a pivotal milestone as countries transition to ARIS-3. In the words of Dr Bousini, “This new platform marks a continental shift—Africa is moving toward evidence-based disease management supported by reliable digital infrastructure.”

FAO added a broader perspective: “Strong systems create strong decisions. ARIS will help countries modernise veterinary governance and protect their livestock economies.”

Toward a More Resilient Animal Health Future

With the accelerated rollout of ARIS-3, AU-IBAR is equipping African countries to modernise their disease surveillance systems, strengthen governance, and advance toward the global goal of PPR eradication by 2030.

As the system becomes fully operational across Member States, Africa moves closer to a future where:

Disease threats are detected earlier
Governments make evidence-based decisions
Livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral communities are protected
Regional integration is strengthened
The livestock sector becomes more resilient and competitive

In the spirit of the opening remarks, Dr Boussini summed up the vision: “ARIS is beyond a tool, but is the backbone of Africa’s animal health intelligence, enabling us to safeguard our animals, our people, and our economies.”