ASF sub-national training in Kompong Speu
FAO and the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) co-facilitated a two-day ASF sub-national training from 26 27 February 2024, at the Kompong Speu Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. With support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Republic of Korea, the training equipped the capacities of provincial and district veterinarians in recognizing ASF clinical signs, conducting laboratory diagnostics, identifying risk pathways and vulnerable populations, and implementing effective animal movement restrictions and containment measures for emergency response.

ASF private-public partnership discussed
Stakeholders from public and private sectors recently convened to discuss developing an ASF information exchange platform. The meeting on 27 February 2024 included representatives from eight Member Nations in Southeast Asia, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and FAO. Participants were briefed on the platform’s background and its role in promoting private-public partnerships. Participants were also briefed on the preliminary findings of key informant interviews and an online survey to probe what the platform should focus on. The Trust for Animals and Food Safety (TAFS) forum, with support from the United States of America's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), is helping FAO in establishing the platform.

Finalizing ASF Biosecurity training modules and risk communication
From 27 to 29 February 2024, FAO, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), held a meeting to finalize training modules and risk communication materials for smallholder pig farmers in North Sulawesi and West Kalimantan provinces, as part of the Community ASF Biosecurity Intervention (CABI) pilot areas. This meeting followed a previous session held in February. Participants from MoA and FAO carried out a dry run of the training modules and provided feedback. Furthermore, the participants finalized the ASF risk communication materials, including posters, videos and booklets for dissemination. These materials will serve as communication tools for ASF prevention among smallholder pig farmers and subnational government animal health officers in pilot areas. Training sessions for smallholder pig farmers in CABI pilot locations are scheduled for March 2024 in North Sulawesi and April 2024 in West Kalimantan province.

SMART-ASEAN mission in Malaysia facilitates progress in animal health initiatives
The Strengthening Mechanism in Animal Health for a Resilient ASEAN (SMART-ASEAN) project recently undertook a mission in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 4 to 8 March 2024, with a primary focus on preparing for the project's closing ceremony and the upcoming ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) Governing Board workshop. Led by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) of Malaysia, as the host country, the mission also sought to contribute to the ACCAHZ launch event scheduled for May this year. Notably, the mission included the refurbishment of the ACCAHZ office, showcasing FAO's commitment to enhancing the infrastructure and ensuring the success of both the ACCAHZ launch event and future initiatives, thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Australian Government for the continuous support.

FAO-DTRA mission in Malaysia: the start of the first multi-year project in the country
FAO and DTRA met with Malaysia's Ministry of Agriculture from 6 to 8 March 2024, progressing in the coordination for the implementation of the first multi-year project in collaboration with the DVS of Malaysia. This collaboration is part of a recently launched regional initiative titled "Strengthening Animal Health Systems for Biological Threat Reduction in Southeast Asia," targeting six countries, including Malaysia. The project aims to enhance regional and national capacities for preventing, detecting, and preparing for biological threats in animal populations. Key outputs from the meetings included the agreed country workplan and timeline of implementation, in alignment with national priorities and initiatives, the identification of project focal points and reference personnel, and the planning of key implementation mechanisms. Close coordination will continue in the upcoming months for finalizing the project’s approvals and the launching planned for the first quarter of 2025.

Workshop on AMR surveillance protocol 
FAO, in collaboration with Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF), held a consultation workshop on developing the AMR surveillance protocol in Yangon, from 14 to 15 February 2024, thanks to USAID. Thirty-two participants, including MLF representatives, associations, partners and experts from veterinary laboratory, food safety, wildlife and environment, provided valuable inputs. This first workshop marks the beginning of protocol development. Further steps will include data compilation, literature review and additional consultations as needed.

Workshop on private sector engagement on AMR control
FAO and the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services (DGLAHS), with the support from the European Union, hosted a workshop on private sector engagement on AMR control in Indonesia on 7 March 2024. FAO RAP gave a presentation and promoted the roles of public-private partnership in combatting AMR. Thirty-eight participants from the private sector, association and government officials discussed and proposed recommendations for increasing the private sector's role and contributions to AMR control. Areas of potential partnership and collaboration were also identified to address AMR challenges.