Togo Endorses Its National PPR Strategic Plan 2025–2030: A Renewed Commitment to Eradicating Peste des Petits Ruminants by 2030

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Togo strengthened its national momentum toward PPR eradication on 17–18 November 2025 by formally validating its National PPR Strategic Plan (NSP) 2025–2030 during a high-level workshop in Lomé.

Held at Hôtel Saint LAZAROS in Lomé, the national workshop brought together more than forty participants from veterinary services, livestock farmers’ organizations, research institutions, and technical and financial partners including FAO, ECOWAS-RAHC, WOAH, and AU-IBAR.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS) underlined the strategic importance of controlling PPR for Togo’s livestock sector. She emphasized that effectively tackling this highly contagious disease is essential for food security, economic resilience, and poverty reduction in rural areas.

She stressed the need for a robust and well-resourced plan capable of improving productivity in the small ruminant sector a critical economic asset for millions of Togolese households.

The Special Adviser for Livestock to the Minister of Agriculture echoed this ambition, recalling that Togo remains firmly committed to achieving PPR-free status by 2030, in line with regional and continental goals.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of AU-IBAR, Dr. Huyam Salih, Dr Jean Marc Feussom, the Continental PPR coordinator, , delivered a strong message highlighting:

  • the economic importance of small ruminants, which represent 30% of the livestock sub-sector’s value added,
  • the heavy reliance of rural households on goats and sheep,
  • The significant economic losses caused by PPR include 50 to 100 reported outbreaks annually, with estimated losses ranging from 1 to 1.5 billion FCFA.
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He emphasized the need for the NSP-PPR to be operational, realistic, and properly funded, and fully aligned with:Agenda 2063,LiDeSA (2015–2035), the Global FAO-WOAHPPR Eradication Strategy and the EU-funded Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme (PAPS).

AU-IBAR also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Togo in strengthening surveillance (REMATO), boosting diagnostic capacity, improving vaccination campaigns, enhancing communication, and reinforcing governance structures within the NSP.

Using the regional six-chapter structure endorsed by ECOWAS and AU-IBAR, the national strategic plan was thoroughly reviewed by three thematic working groups focusing on:

  • epidemiology, diagnostics, and veterinary services capacity,
  • the strategic framework and action plan,
  • budgeting, implementation arrangements, and monitoring & evaluation.

The working sessions allowed participants to:

  • revise the technical content of the plan,
  • refine surveillance, vaccination, and laboratory priorities,
  • update cost estimates and projections,
  • and consolidate a realistic roadmap aligned with regional and continental standards.

The participatory approach ensured strong national ownership, engaging both central-level institutions and representatives of the sheep and goat value chains.

Togo’s NSP-PPR 2025–2030 is fully aligned with:

  • the Global PPR Eradication Strategy (GCES),
  • the Pan-African Strategy for PPR Control and Eradication,
  • the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme (2023-2027) coordinated by AU-IBAR, and ECOWAS regional commitments.
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The plan outlines a progressive strengthening of surveillance and a scale-up of vaccination campaigns through 2027, followed by a shift toward verification of freedom from viral circulation in 2028–2029. Togo aims to submit its WOAH PPR-free status application by 2031-2032.

Validation of the costed National PPR Strategic Plan marks a significant turning point for Togo:

  •  a consolidated and technically robust document,

  •  a clear, realistic, and operational roadmap,

  • renewed political commitment, and strengthened multi-stakeholder engagement.

As highlighted by AU-IBAR, success will now depend on:

  • sustained government leadership,
  • high-quality field implementation,
  • effective resource mobilization and the inclusion of women, youth, and the private veterinary sector.

With this milestone, Togo is firmly advancing toward the shared continental vision: an Africa free of PPR by 2030.