Regional Stakeholders are Joining Forces to Take Coordinated Action to Eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants by 2030

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, June 23–25, 2025 – Delegates from five West African countries and regional organisations convened in Abidjan to strengthen cross-border collaboration and accelerate the eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). The three-day workshop, organised by FAO and AU-IBAR with funding from the European Union, concluded with a series of recommendations designed to harmonise vaccination, enhance surveillance, and mobilise resources across the Mano River Basin and beyond.

Opening the event, the Representative of Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources emphasised the urgency of the fight against PPR, stating: “The clock is ticking towards the 2030 deadline! Coordinated cross-border strategies and data sharing are essential if we are to succeed.” His remarks were echoed by Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, who highlighted the political will of Member States and the lessons learned from past successes such as rinderpest eradication and the PAPS programme.

Participants included officials from Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, alongside regional PPR coordinators from ECOWAS, IGAD, ECCAS, and SADC. International partners, including FAO, WOAH, and the World Bank, also took part. Together, they assessed national progress, discussed challenges, and shared best practices for advancing along the PPR eradication pathway.

The workshop showcased the value of the Pan-African initiative launched in 2022 and the PMAT e-learning tool, which allows Member States to assess and strengthen their disease management systems. A major outcome was the consensus on adopting the episystem approach, focusing on disease hotspots and key livestock mobility corridors to halt the spread of PPR.

Importantly, participants recognised that in parts of West Africa, up to 60% of small ruminants are at risk from PPR. This not only threatens rural livelihoods and regional trade but also undermines food security. For countries already recognised as PPR-free by WOAH, establishing effective buffer zones remains critical to prevent reinfection from high-risk neighbouring areas.

At the conclusion of the workshop, clear recommendations were issued: Member States should finalise national action plans with strong local stakeholder engagement; Regional Economic Communities should harmonise national programmes and promote collaboration across borders; donors and technical partners should provide increased funding and targeted support to countries in the early stages of the PPR pathway; and civil society and pastoralist groups should remain engaged to drive behavioural change and ensure community ownership.

This cross-border dialogue reaffirmed the collective ambition of African governments and partners to achieve a PPR-free continent by 2030. By strengthening surveillance systems, harmonising vaccination campaigns, and investing in local and regional capacities, West Africa is taking concrete steps towards resilient animal health systems that safeguard livelihoods and advance regional integration.