Rwanda advances plans for state-of-the-art National Reference Veterinary Laboratory

Prevention and management of public health threats in Rwanda is frequently constrained by lack of the lack of facilities to test for emerging zoonotic pathogens needing higher biosafety levels. To address these challenges, technical experts from various national health institutions including Universities gathered for a two-day workshop on 24 and 25 April 2025, in Nyamata, Bugesera district. The workshop, organized by FAO with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), focused on reviewing and validating Terms of Reference for the feasibility study related to the construction of a National Reference Veterinary Laboratory (NRVL).

The participants successfully validated the Terms of Reference that align with international standards set by FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), World Health Organization (WHO), and ISO/IEC 17025:2017. This validation is the first step of the feasibility study, which will guide the design of a modern, futuristic and innovative, state-of-the-art laboratory capable of providing advanced diagnostic services, supporting early detection of zoonotic diseases and AMR.

"We have prioritized the establishment of a new international-standard laboratory that showcases the best ambitions for RAB," said Fabrice Ndayisenga, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Rwanda. "The technical expertise provided by all participants during this workshop is crucial in shaping the final design of a facility that will serve not only Rwanda but potentially the entire East African region."

The establishment of the NRVL represents a key milestone in strengthening Rwanda’s veterinary infrastructure and animal health systems. The validation of its Terms of Reference reflects the progress achieved through collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and FAO, under the “Strengthening pandemic prevention and response  through the One Health approach project’’, funded by the Pandemic Fund. This initiative supports low and middle-income countries in building stronger capacities to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemic threats. Through this support, FAO is working with national authorities to reinforce Rwanda’s veterinary and laboratory systems, helping to mitigate the risks of zoonotic diseases and other public health threats.

The workshop brought together diverse perspectives, with participants emphasizing the importance of sustainability beyond initial funding, clear laboratory mandates distinguishing between clinical, food, environmental, research, and diagnostic functions, and positioning Rwanda as a leader in veterinary diagnostics in East Africa. The validated Terms of Reference will now guide the next phases of the project, including site selection, architectural designs, construction and operationalization, benchmarking with successful laboratories globally, including detailed design considerations for environmental parameters, laboratory flow, materials, waste management, and emergency plans.