Cairo, Egypt - In the framework of South-South Cooperation (SSC) initiative, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO(, as a focal point for South-South cooperation in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) of the Arab Republic of Egypt, sent the second delegation of researchers and veterinarians to the Republic of South Sudan to provide technical and training support. This aims to enhance the capacity of field-based veterinarians in the domain of animal diseases in South-Sudan. In addition to sharing their experiences with Egypt in the animal health protection field, at national and regional levels.

As part of the SSC Initiative, MALR also sent two million doses of vaccines for livestock and poultry, produced by the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, to South Sudan. Those vaccine doses were specifically produced for South Sudan and shipped by the Egyptian authorities by EgyptAir, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Vaccines were received at Juba Airport by the Ambassador of Egypt to South Sudan, HE. Moataz Mustafa Abdel Qader, and by the concerned veterinarians delegation.

During this period, FAO has signed an agreement with the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) - MALR, in order to enhance and improve the performance of national health systems for human, animal, plant and environmental health by improving the prevention and control of plant pests and animal diseases, as well as improving early warning systems and health risk management, including antimicrobial resistance.

The agreement stipulates that the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) will work within the South-South Cooperation Initiative to enhance the capacity of field-based veterinarians in animal diseases in Southern Sudan, by sending veterinary experts and researchers and exchanging their experiences with South Sudan in the animal health protection at national and regional levels.

Thus, a veterinary mission of four veterinary experts were sent to South Sudan on November 2021. Also, another mission of four veterinary experts on April 2022 was sent; in order to enhance the capacities of workers in the livestock sector and to provide diagnostic assistance to the program of continuous livestock monitoring and vaccine evaluation studies.

Under this agreement, an inspection and study tour for senior veterinary officials in South Sudan was organized in Egypt for a week on November 2021. Its goal is to see the available capabilities and the required expertise and to learn about the pioneering Egyptian experience in the prevention of animal diseases, laboratory diagnosis, production of animal vaccines and the necessary tests for evaluation and calibration.

In this regard, Mr. Nasredin Hag Elamin, FAO Representative in Egypt, affirmed FAO’s commitment to support the efforts of South Sudan and other countries, to achieve food security through the South-South Cooperation Initiative. Also, FAO’s commitment in providing support and coordinating with the Egyptian authorities, represented by MALR and related institutions; to achieve the required goals.

Mr. Elamin also extended his thanks to the Egyptian government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) for facilitating all procedures during this cooperation. The the Research Institute of the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute for the efforts made to produce and provide these quantities of required vaccines, which we hope to be part of solving some field problems in South Sudan and is a nucleus for the fruit of continuous cooperation in the future”.

It is noteworthy that the FAO, as a focal point for South-South cooperation, call in inviting countries that have development solutions with countries interested in applying those solutions in one place through sharing and exchanging experiences and bringing together partners. FAO supports these initiatives by coordinating dialogue between governments, institutions, civil society, and the private sector, and providing a framework for cooperation through which exchanges take place between countries, institutions, cooperatives, farmers, and international organizations.

FAO also provides technical supervision and affirmation of adherence to international standards in the formulation, implementation, follow-up and impact evaluation of all programs, which allows for participation, support and follow-up with national authorities and other relevant stakeholders. In addition to expanding the scope of South-South cooperation through the exchange of technical expertise and the dispatch of experts or technicians. To a country for periods ranging from two months to two years, organizing study tours and training through short-term scientific exchanges as well as obtaining training courses offered by the FAO Centers of Excellence.