The Standard Methods and Procedures in Animal Health (SMP-AH) project was designed to address the common challenge of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in the Greater Horn of Africa. The project is implemented by the Africa Union-Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in Partnership with the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD/IGAD) with financial support from United States Agency for International Development-East africa Mission (USAID/EA).in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The project is intended to contribute to the reduction of poverty, enhance regional economic growth and integration through improved access of live animal and animal products to regional and international markets, mainly through supporting harmonization and coordination of disease control of trade-related TADs in the region.

SMP ICPALD

Participants at the validation workshop for SMPs held at Naivasha, Kenya from 23rd to 25th March 2015

Countries in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) have been supported to regionally harmonize the differing and sometime conflicting animal health regulations through the development and implementation of the Standard Methods and Procedures (SMPs)-guidelines for surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory procedures, disease prevention and control of trade-related TADs, including, Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Rinderpest (RP), Contagious Bovine Pleueropneumonia (CBPP), Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), Lumpy skin disease (LSD),   Sheep and Goat pox (SGP), Camelpox (CP), Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Brucellosis. In addition, SMP for Export Quarantine has been developed as well. The project delivers its objectives through the following four result areas:

  • Framework for surveillance and control of trade-related animal diseases established;
  • Laboratory support and testing procedures for the priority diseases harmonized in the region;
  • Standards for regional quarantine stations established;
  • Technical and coordination capacity of participating countries and IGAD enhanced

To date, the SMP-AH project has developed and validated (1)SMPs for TADs mentioned above and one for Export Quarantine, (2) developed country work plans for 2015, (3) piloted initiatives on animal identification and traceability systems (LITS), (4) trained veterinarians on risk analysis, (5) trained 114 ARIS II administrators and users, (6) trained 24 veterinary staff from GHoA on Management Skills Development, (7) trained 28 veterinarians from GHoA on epidemiology and surveillance, (8) trained 22 quarantine stakeholders from the GHoA, (9) trained 24 veterinary staff from GHoA in laboratory techniques, (10) supported vaccine laboratories of National Veterinary Institute in Ethiopia and KEVEVAPI in Kenya with materials and equipment to enhance quality and quality of vaccine production, and (11) supported the North Eastern Africa Livestock Council (NEALCO) and strengthened the capacity of ICPALD.