For the commemoration of the 70^th Anniversary of the ISCTRC to be marked during the 35^th General Conference of the ISCTRC to be held in Abuja, Nigeria on the 23^rd to 27^th September 2019, a decision has been made to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions, in the last 10 year, towards the mission and values of ISCTRC. These awards will consist of Plaques, Medallions and certificates. Recipients of these awards exemplify excellence and are representatives of the best in their fields. They have consistently excelled in their positions and demonstrated integrity and a strong commitment to the mission and values of ISCTRC. These awards will be presented on behalf of the Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission and the Thirty Eight (38) countries affected by tsetse flies and human and animal trypanosomiasis.

The recipients were nominated by the ISCTRC fraternity based on a specified criteria and eventually selected by a committee appointed by the Director of AU-IBAR.

Nominees for Awards

Gold Medal, Plaque and certificate

Diagnostics

1. Prof Philippe Buscher is a highly regarded Diagnostics scientist involved in developing diagnostic tools that have contributed immensely to the success in the control of Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), focusing mainly on improved diagnosis. Some of the several diagnostics tools he has developed include CAT, mAECT, TDRs, ELISA, PCRs, and Trypanolysis. Prof. Büscher has co-authored more than 170 articles in peer reviewed journals and more than 10 book chapters. He has participated in several European projects and is a member of the World Health Organization Network for Human African Trypanosomiasis Elimination and is steering committee member of the project on African trypananosomiasis of GALVmed. He advises the Scientific Committee of the Belgian Federal Agency for Food Safety on the diagnosis of dourine (T. equiperdum) and is Associate Editor of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Control of Tsetse (SIT)

2. Dr. Marc J.B. Vreysen is recognised for his role in Control of Tsetse (SIT). He has 30 years of experience with area-wide integrated pest management approaches and the sterile insect technique for major insect pests of crops, livestock and human health. His over 30 years of experience has involved 12 years working and living in sub-Saharan Africa, where he guided and advised SIT programmes against tsetse flies, including the successful tsetse eradication programme on Zanzibar Island. He has been working for the FAO and IAEA since 1987, of which the last 11 years as the Head of the Insect Pest Control Laboratory in Seibersdorf.

3. Dr. Udo Feldmann is a recognized Entomologist in Insect Pest Control techniques. He has more than 30 years’ experience in laboratory and field support to tsetse intervention projects, including four years of assignment in East and West Africa. Dr. Udo is recognized for advancing the use of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for eradication of tsetse flies in Zanzibar and other parts of the continent. A highlight of the work in the past 20 years was the conversion of Zanzibar to a tsetse fly free zone in 1997 by means of an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) campaign involving the SIT.

© 2019 AU-IBAR. Member States receive ICT infrastructure to facilitate data capture and analysis on Animal Generic Resources.AU-IBAR has empowered Member States by strengthening Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure for data capture and analysis to promote evidence based decision making. A donation of US$ 36,000.00 worth of computer equipment, each set comprising an HP laptop, monitor, docking station, wireless keyboard, mouse, and bag has been made to 31 African Union Member States. The ICT equipment was handed over to Directors of Animal Production who were in Kenya attending a meeting. The equipment is for use by officers in the Departments responsible for animal resources. The donation is part of activities of an AU-IBAR project “Strengthening the Capacity of African Countries to Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of African Animal Genetic Resources” (2013-2019) popularly known as the Genetics Project that recently ended and was funded by the European Union.

The main objective of the project was to facilitate and fast track the implementation of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for sustainable use of AnGR in Africa for which the continent is lagging behind. The project also focused on building capacity of Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) for effective formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for the management of AnGR and created awareness for its inclusion into national and regional agricultural investment priorities. One of the key Result Areas of the Genetics Project focussed on generating and disseminating information on issues affecting AnGR. Hence, in efforts to improve information and data availability at national level, the project procured ICT equipment for all Member States.

© 2019 AU-IBAR. One Voice to Catalyse Equitable Growth of the Livestock Sector through the harmonisation of key Livestock Policies (Picture 1). A unique stakeholder workshop of over 60 participants gathered in Naivasha, Kenya from 2-6 September, 2019. The stakeholder workshop, which was facilitated by AU-IBAR under the funding of the European Union brought together three groups of technical leaders of the livestock sector to discuss ways of Enhancing Harmonization and Coordination for Implementation of Key Livestock Policies, Legal and Investment Frameworks.

The groups comprised of firstly, the Continental Animal Health Platform in Africa (CAHP-Africa), a platform that brings together private and public actors to provide strategic guidance for the implementation of the Animal Health Strategy for Africa. Secondly, the Guiding Group for the CAHP oversight that was established to lead the process of reproofing the vet profession in Africa by regularly reflecting on the approach and road map. The third group comprises the Directors of Animal Production (DAP) who were invited to establish a DAP Network which is envisioned to champion and energize the implementation of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa.

© 2019 AU-IBAR. Group photo of participants.A training workshop on AU-IBAR Procurement and Financial Requirements & Agribusiness Management Training is being held for Grant recipients of the African Union Member State (MS) Fund (with some contribution from the European Union). The training is being held in Nairobi from 10^th – 13^th September 2019 with the aim of empowering African youth and women to effectively participate in the animal resources sector.

The grant recipients comprise; existing women and youth-led enterprises and early start-ups in the animal resources value chain in Africa, African Youth in Livestock Fisheries and Aquaculture Incubation Network (AYL-FAIN), and members of the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N).

The selection of these recipients began in March 2019, when a Call for Proposals was launched. The response to the call attracted 295 project proposal submissions that were reviewed through a rigorous selection process that narrowed down the selected project proposals from 295 to 36. All 36 projects underwent ground verification. A final selection of 18 project proposals was made at a meeting held by the selection committee on 20^th August 2019. The 18 projects comprise 15 accelerators and 3 start-ups from 5 regions and 17 countries.