East Africa adopts 10-year strategic framework to combat foot-and-mouth disease

EAST AFRICA – Governments and stakeholders across Eastern Africa have endorsed a 10-year strategic framework to tackle Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), a long-standing threat to livestock production, trade, and food security.

Representatives from a broad coalition — including the African Union’s Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GALVmed, national chief veterinary offices, wildlife authorities, and technical experts convened in Nairobi for a two-day consultation and validation workshop.

The adopted “Strategic Framework for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Eastern Africa 2026–2035” seeks to harmonize regional control measures for FMD — a disease that continues to cause frequent outbreaks, major economic losses, and restrictions on livestock trade and market access.

The framework builds on previous regional commitments including Agenda 2063, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026–2035, the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA), and the broader Animal Health Strategy for Africa.

The regional strategy is anchored on three core pillars. First, Knowledge and Evidence will be strengthened by establishing regional platforms for information sharing, enhancing risk-assessment tools, and advancing economic analysis and epidemiological studies to better understand the patterns and impacts of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Second, Capacity Building will be prioritized through region-wide training programs, more robust vaccination campaigns, improved diagnostic and laboratory capabilities—including serotyping and vaccine matching—and the promotion of public–private partnerships to support disease control.

Finally, Coordination and Cooperation will be deepened by harmonizing protocols across countries, reinforcing early-warning systems, enabling rapid response mechanisms, facilitating bulk procurement of affordable vaccines, and strengthening regional laboratory networks.

According to AU-IBAR director Dr. Huyam Salih, livestock are vital to food and nutritional security for hundreds of millions of people in Eastern Africa — yet transboundary animal diseases such as FMD drain billions of dollars from Sub-Saharan Africa annually.

He noted that no single country can effectively manage FMD on its own and highlighted the urgent need for deeper regional coordination, harmonized policies, improved surveillance, early detection and rapid response.

With the framework validated, the region will now focus on developing a detailed implementation plan, mobilising resources, and establishing governance mechanisms to guide execution between 2026 and 2035.

AU-IBAR has committed to supporting member states and regional economic communities in translating the strategy into concrete actions. The upcoming rollout of ARIS3 is also expected to enhance disease reporting and situational awareness.

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE