Strengthening Animal Disease Surveillance: FAO Hosts Regional Webinar on Event Mobile Application (EMA-i+) for Near East and North Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a successful regional webinar to introduce and promote the Event Mobile Application (EMA-i+), an innovative tool designed to enhance real-time animal disease reporting across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Friederike Mayen, Senior Regional Livestock Development Officer at FAO RNE, emphasized the urgency of strengthening surveillance systems in the region.

“In our region, where transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses threaten both livelihoods and food security, timely and effective surveillance is not just important—it is vital,” she said. “EMA-i is one concrete solution FAO is proud to introduce to support this goal.”

Developed by FAO, EMA-i+ enables veterinary field officers to report suspected animal disease events directly from the field using smartphones or tablets. Reports are geo-referenced and transmitted in real-time to national authorities, thereby enhancing data accuracy and response speed.

Dr. Gisela Gioia, EMA-i Coordinator at FAO HQ, presented an overview of the tool’s functionalities and the steps needed for national implementation.

“EMA-i+ is not just a reporting application; it is a strategic enabler that empowers countries to modernize surveillance and respond faster to disease threats,” Dr. Gioia noted. “Its success relies on strong national ownership, sustained capacity building, and regional collaboration.”

Dr. Nacheervan Ghaffar, National Project Coordinator and Veterinary Expert at FAO Iraq, shared Iraq’s practical experience with implementing EMA-i+, highlighting real-world opportunities and challenges and providing valuable lessons for the region.

During the interactive discussion, Dr. Fernanda Dorea, Project Manager for Early Warning Data Mining, and Ms. Sabina Ramazzotto, Information System Analyst Developer, joined the panel to answer participants’ questions comprehensively. Together, they addressed technical and operational challenges, offered practical solutions, and clarified steps to overcome barriers to EMA-i+ adoption, paving the way forward for countries preparing to implement the application.

Dr. Ismaila Seck, Global Early Warning Coordinator at FAO HQ, delivered the closing remarks, reinforcing the global importance of timely, field-based data collection.

“EMA-i+ plays a critical role in strengthening early warning systems by improving the quality and timeliness of country-level disease reports,” said Dr. Seck. “This feeds into global alert systems and helps the international community respond more effectively.”

The webinar attracted strong regional interest, with over 50 participants from 11 countries actively engaging throughout the session. Attendees praised EMA-i+ for its user-friendly design and practical features, expressing optimism about its potential to transform animal disease surveillance and response in their respective countries. Dr. Ahmed Saad, One Health Regional Coordinator at FAO RNE, concluded: “EMA-i+ clearly holds great promise for integration into national systems. We look forward to working closely with countries in the region to support its implementation and scale-up.”

Looking ahead, FAO is committed to supporting countries in the NENA region with technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to facilitate the national rollout and integration of EMA-i+ into existing surveillance systems. Strengthening these digital tools will enhance early detection and rapid response to animal health threats, ultimately safeguarding livelihoods, food security, and public health across the region.