Building Regional Resilience: Epidemiological Surveillance Training in Tunis Advances Animal Health Security in Africa

Tunis, Tunisia July 14–18, 2025 Twenty animal health professionals from ten African countries completed intensive training in epidemiological surveillance and GIS-based risk mapping to strengthen early detection and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs). The workshop, convened by AU-IBAR and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) in collaboration with Tunisia’s Centre National de Veille Zoosanitaire (CNVZ), formed part of the newly launched Regional Programme for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases in Africa (TADs Programme). This EU-supported initiative aims to harmonise disease surveillance, improve risk assessment, and safeguard livestock trade while advancing Africa’s food security agenda.

The training equipped participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, Mali, Tanzania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, South Africa, and the Central African Republic with advanced skills in disease risk mapping, data harmonisation, and outbreak management. These efforts directly contribute to AU-IBAR’s Strategic Plan (2024–2028) and align with international frameworks such as GF-TADs and the One Health paradigm.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Mohamed Naceur Baccar (CNVZ), Dr. Mahmoud Hanatleh (AOAD), Dr. Hiver Boussini (AU-IBAR), and Tunisia’s Chief Veterinary Officer highlighted the urgent need for collaboration and digital innovation in animal health systems. They stressed that resilience can only be achieved through timely data-sharing, capacity building, and integrated surveillance across borders.

Over five days, participants engaged in practical modules, starting with Tunisia’s national surveillance system and moving into applied GIS mapping using QGIS. Real datasets on Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) were used to design geospatial risk maps, guiding the prioritisation of surveillance and vaccination campaigns. Subsequent sessions covered global risk assessment frameworks from WOAH, FAO and WHO, reinforcing the One Health approach and cross-sectoral collaboration. The training concluded with interactive case studies and simulations on outbreak management, consolidating practical skills for real-world scenarios.

Given that PPR continues to affect over 60% of small ruminants in some regions, the establishment of risk-based surveillance systems is vital to protect countries already recognised as PPR-free by WOAH. Strengthening surveillance and regional coordination is therefore, not only a technical requirement but also a socio-economic imperative to protect livelihoods, secure livestock trade, and enhance public health resilience.

The Tunis meeting produced key recommendations: Member States and partners should establish sustainable funding for integrated surveillance systems, conduct routine refresher trainings, and institutionalise regional platforms for data-sharing and genetic sequencing. Harmonised protocols for cross-border collaboration and rapid alerts were also endorsed, alongside embedding the One Health approach in all national disease strategies.

This training stands as a transformative milestone in Africa’s fight against TADs. By equipping professionals with advanced epidemiological and digital tools, the initiative fosters regional solidarity and enhances preparedness for future outbreaks. Participants return to their countries not only as skilled technicians but as ambassadors of cooperation, tasked with strengthening veterinary systems and accelerating Africa’s progress toward resilient animal health security and sustainable livestock production.