FAO and Australia partner to strengthen animal health systems in Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Bangkok - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), has launched a three-year regional initiative to strengthen animal health systems across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Funded by the Australian Government, the project aims to enhance disease prevention, detection and response by building resilient, inclusive and sustainable veterinary infrastructures.

As the region faces increasing risks from zoonotic diseases, this initiative will reinforce early warning mechanisms, improve veterinary and institutional capacities, and enhance disease surveillance. These efforts will help mitigate economic losses in the livestock sector and reduce the risk of diseases with pandemic potential.

New initiative strengthens disease surveillance, workforce and biosecurity

A key component of this initiative is the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Epidemiology Network for Training, utilizing the Veterinary workforce and evidence, and Sharing for Trust (ENTRVST). This regional peer-to-peer network is designed to strengthen veterinary epidemiology capacities, promote best practices, and foster collaboration among animal health professionals.

In partnership with institutions such as the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), the project will also introduce innovative diagnostic tools and field investigation techniques. By improving laboratory capacities and surveillance mechanisms, Member Nations will be better equipped to detect and respond to disease outbreaks effectively.

To enhance frontline disease detection, the project will implement community-based interventions that encourage timely and transparent disease reporting. By working with farmers, government authorities and key stakeholders, the initiative aims to improve disease reporting mechanisms and improve early detection systems and refine disease reporting mechanisms. A data-sharing platform between authorities and local communities will also be developed to ensure swift and coordinated responses to potential outbreaks.

In Indonesia, the project will leverage the success of previous Australian-supported initiatives, such as the North Sulawesi wildlife disease surveillance programme, to generate additional evidence supporting advocacy efforts. These measures will contribute to scaling up national and regional disease prevention strategies, minimizing spillover risks from wildlife markets and strengthening biosafety and biosecurity practices across the region.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, the project will provide training on livestock production and animal husbandry, equipping livestock officers, para-veterinarians and farmers with practical knowledge and skills to improve livestock management and food and nutrition security.

A regional approach to health security

Covering ten Member Nations, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, the initiative underscores the importance of regional collaboration in mitigating health threats. By harmonizing efforts across borders, the project aims to create a more resilient and interconnected animal health system.

FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, Thanawat Tiensin, highlighted the broader impact of this initiative. “Strengthening animal health systems is fundamental to sustainable livestock transformation and better production, which are core to FAO’s mandate. By investing in capacity building and regional collaboration, we protect animal and human health and support resilient food systems and sustainable livelihoods."

This project represents a crucial step in advancing regional health security through the One Health approach. By addressing vulnerabilities in animal health systems, FAO and its partners, contribute directly to the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.