17th Annual Regional Meeting for Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases Regional Programme for Asia and the Pacific (AREM)

The FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) was founded in 2005 in response to the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). FAO ECTAD programme in Asia and the Pacific was the first decentralised FAO ECTAD programme established in 2006 with its regional office based in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). Over the past 19 years, the FAO ECTAD programme has grown from a disease-specific programme to a programme that delivers high quality, high efficiency field animal health services for FAO, covering issues on emerging infectious diseases, transboundary animal diseases, animal health and One Health threats including antimicrobial resistance. 

The FAO ECTAD programme delivers coordinated support to FAO member countries through a cohesive approach at global, regional and country levels, that tailored to meet specific country needs and priorities.  Since 2007, the FAO ECTAD teams in Asia and the Pacific get together in the Regional Meeting for the ECTAD Regional Programme in Asia and the Pacific (AREM), which provided an important opportunity for the programme personnel to meet as a group and develop a common understanding of the complex issues and challenges to be dealt with in the region. The AREMs have been organized with a motivation to and focus on strengthening coordination of the ECTAD Regional Programme and improving efficiency of its delivery amid evolving situation. Each AREM has given an opportunity to ECTAD teams from country, regional and headquarter levels to review ongoing activities and re-evaluate ECTAD’s future direction taking into account the anticipated changes and new priorities – both within and outside of FAO.
During the past 2 years, the FAO ECTAD programme in Asia and the Pacific has experienced the programme transition to accommodate the shift of financial resources to the country levels, the geographical expansion of the program from 7 to 13 FAO ECTAD countries, and the diversification of resource partners as the world pays more attention to pandemic prevention and preparedness at sources. Therefore, it is a critical time that the FAO ECTAD team members in Asia and the Pacific convene the 17th AREM will aim to maintain its core strength in programme coordination amid the changing resource landscapes and updated global, regional and country priorities.

Objectives

1. Review the country, regional and global priorities taking into consideration the current and evolving situation and matters that may influence livestock production, risk of disease introduction and animal health status, as well as the governments’ policies to address the risks;
   
2. Review and discuss ways to strengthen coordination and collaboration at country and regional levels for improved efficiency and coherence of programme delivery; 
   
3. Review and discuss the potential scenarios for project implementation and delivery based on the funding status during 2024 – 2025, and identify suitable options for business continuity;  
   
4. Strengthen programme cohesiveness through the implementation of the Strategic Guidance for ECTAD programme in the Asia and Pacific region.