USAID Indonesia Mission Director visits FAO work in Yogyakarta
FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture hosted a USAID Mission Director field visit to FAO’s intervention areas in Yogyakarta from 23 to 24 May 2023. The Director visited the disease investigation center in Wates to witness the enhancement of integrated multisectoral surveillance systems and its capacity to prevent and detect zoonoses and emerging infectious diseases, then continued to Purwosari Village to discuss and hear about the successful multisectoral collaboration on the anthrax response with a One Health approach. Lastly, the Director went to a layer poultry farm to observe public-private partnerships in action implementing healthy poultry management through 3-zone biosecurity, and producing products that meet the government’s health and safety standards. The visit concluded with a commitment from all parties to sustain and strengthen the impactful collaboration to prevent, detect and respond to global health security threats.

FAO strengthens partnerships with Nepal in the animal health sector
FAO briefed the Government of Nepal on the progress made in the animal health sector, highlighting the USAID-funded Global Health Security Program. During the meeting, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Deepak Kharal acknowledged that the collective efforts between the government and FAO are crucial in addressing the challenges faced by the livestock industry in the country. Meanwhile, FAO ECTAD Regional Manager Kachen Wongsathapornchai, on his courtesy visit to Nepal, shared valuable insights and experiences, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange in achieving our shared goals. FAO will continue working closely with Nepal and key stakeholders to protect animal health, livelihoods and sustainable livestock transformation.

FAO and China close the project in Greater Mekong Subregion
FAO officially closed the South-South Cooperation Project on transboundary animal diseases in Greater Mekong Subregion on 3 June 2023. The project has equipped cattle farmers in high-risk areas with the knowledge and resources to implement safer trade and protect their livestock from diseases, including vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease. The four-year project was made possible through support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (MARA).

USAID technical deep dive on workforce development
FAO conducted the fourth technical deep dive session with USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) on 26 May 2023. This meeting sought to enable open technical discussions and information exchange opportunities on specific topics relating to USAID-supported programmes in the region. The particular subject being discussed during the fourth meeting was workforce development. This session was opened for the first time to USAID Missions in the region to enable better coordination and provide the opportunity for information sharing and technical discussion.