The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with financial support from the Government of the United States, has concluded a multi-country project aimed at strengthening early warning systems and biosecurity to improve the detection and prevention of animal health threats. The closing event in Accra brought together government officials, technical experts, development partners, and community stakeholders to review results and discuss how to sustain and expand the project’s impact. Implemented in Ghana, Guinea, and Tanzania, the initiative addressed rising risks from transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses that threaten food systems, livelihoods, and public health.
The project delivered key improvements across three main areas, including the introduction of digital early warning tools such as EMA-i+ to enable faster reporting and response to animal health risks, enhanced farm-level biosecurity practices under the FAO Progressive Management Pathway framework, and strengthened workforce capacity through virtual learning platforms that trained professionals in disease detection and response. These efforts improved coordination between field data collection, laboratory analysis, and national decision-making systems, allowing countries to identify and respond to outbreaks more effectively before they escalate.
Stakeholders highlighted the importance of continued investment in One Health systems, emphasizing that sustained progress depends on integrating these approaches into national frameworks and strengthening institutional ownership. Development partners noted that the project’s success was driven by strong collaboration between governments, technical agencies, and farming communities, and stressed the need to scale up proven practices across broader regional and global initiatives.
As the project concludes, participating countries are now better equipped with digital tools, improved surveillance capacity, and stronger biosecurity systems to manage animal health threats. FAO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting countries in expanding One Health approaches and building more resilient agrifood systems capable of preventing future health risks and protecting livelihoods.
