Johannesburg: The second annual meeting of the Coordinating Unit for Animal Production and Health (CUFAPH) under the FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together 30 national animal health experts, regional organizations, and FAO technical staff to strengthen animal production and health coordination in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
According to African Press Organization, CUFAPH, established in 2020, serves as a multidisciplinary platform promoting technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and harmonized approaches to animal health and production across SADC Member States. It aligns national efforts with regional priorities, builds veterinary capacity, and facilitates cross-border collaboration under the One Health approach. Livestock development is crucial for over 100 million people in the SADC region, where it sustains 42 percent of the population, contributes up to 40 percent of agricultural GDP, and provides a pathway out of poverty, especially for smallholder farmers.
The CUFAPH 2nd Annual Workshop reviewed progress, shared experiences, and set priorities for the coming year. Discussions focused on Adaptive Resource Mobilization (RM) to enhance CUFAPH's ability to design high-quality, fundable proposals amid a shrinking donor landscape and increasing competition for resources. CUFAPH thematic groups, including Livestock Production, One Health, Laboratory, Disease Control, Emergency and Resilience (DiCER), and the Virtual Learning Centre, reported their achievements and agreed on key outcomes to strengthen regional coordination.
Dr. Berhanu Bedane, CUFAPH Team Lead, highlighted CUFAPH's contributions to regional animal production and health coordination, noting the support provided to countries in developing national One Health strategies and expanding online training for veterinarians and technicians. The workshop also emphasized the impact of the EU-funded STOSAR II Project, which supports animal health activities and contributes to the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy.
CUFAPH members agreed on strategic recommendations to guide future interventions in the SADC region. These include establishing a Laboratory Thematic Working Group, enhancing capacity building, strengthening communications, advancing resource mobilization, rebranding the Virtual Learning Centre, and institutionalizing disease intelligence and digital tools. The meeting concluded with team-building activities to foster collaboration and ensure smooth coordination across the region, supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods in Southern Africa.