Enhancing Capacity for Aquatic Animal Health Services: Donor's Insights

1. Defining needs in Capacity Building for Aquatic Animal Health Services – A donor’s perspectiveOIE 2nd Global Conference for Aquatic Animal Health – Panama City June 28-30 Tianna MacInnesSenior International Standards Advisor, Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer

2. State of play… • Fish and fish products are an affordable source of food • Global markets for fish and fishery products are expanding • Fisheries and aquaculture are economic drivers of numerous countries Source: The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010, FAO publication

3. Challenges to Aquatic Animal Health in the context of… • Sustainable practices for inland and coastal aquaculture production. • Not to mention sustainable practices for capture fisheries, which can impact the aquatic food chain, biodiversity and the very existence of some species. • Health impacts as a result of climate change, ecosystem degradation. • Suggested reading: IPSO Report – International Earth System Expert Workshop on Ocean Stresses and Impacts (http://www.stateoftheocean.org/pdfs/1906_IPSO-LONG.pdf) • …These are challenges for us all

4. Meeting challenges…assistance at the international level • OIE • Standards on controlling disease through trade. • Managing disease through compartments or biosecurity measures, disinfection, handling and disposal of aquatic animal waste. • Shifting onus towards importing countries to manage diseases based on risk assessment & appropriate (vs. prescriptive) control measures. • FAO • development of programs for certification & sustainable aquaculture protocols. That’s all fine but where do I start?

5. Suggested path forward… • Some times you need to understand where you are before you begin… • Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) and the subsequent pathway is a good start • Assessment of infrastructure and capabilities • Helpful in identifying needs for capacity building

6. The journey along the path forward… • PVS pathway results could be used to leverage funding from donors for specific projects to establish/enhance aquatic animal health programmes • In addition, the results could be used to leverage expertise through technical or cooperative arrangements • Twinning with the Collaborating Centres or Reference Laboratories • Missions for developing legislation to protect animal health

7. The benefits… • Objective analysis assists in understanding needs and in identifying key partnerships • Clear objectives to enhance programming assists donor community to identify projects that align with their foreign aid and policy objectives

8. Other benefits… • Overall, enhancing aquatic animal programmes in the framework of international standards has implications on: • Management of and response to disease incursions • Socio-economic health of countries or regions • Security of the global food supply • Opportunities to work with developers of private standards and certification schemes to ensure consistency across markets and in alignment with domestic and international standards

9. From a donor’s perspective… • Programs and investments have should have measurable performance indicators – demonstrable results vs. activities. • Expectation for effective and auditable project management to maintain engagement and contribution. • Using investments to leverage additional investments and capacity to the table is always appreciated

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