NAIROBI, Kenya- Nairobi is hosting a high-level training workshop aimed at improving how African countries collect, manage and use animal health data to combat transboundary diseases and strengthen food security.
The four-day workshop, running from 11–14 May 2026, brings together experts from Eastern, Southern and selected West African countries to build capacity on the Animal Resources Information System (ARIS), a continental platform used for livestock data management.
Opening the meeting on behalf of the Director of AU-IBAR, Dr Mary Mbole-Kariuki said reliable and timely data remains central to effective disease surveillance and livestock sector planning.
“This activity responds to a clear imperative: to strengthen the capacity of Member States to produce and use reliable, structured and analysable data for surveillance, reporting and decision-making,” she said.
The training is being implemented under the EU-funded Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a highly contagious viral disease affecting sheep and goats and a major threat to livestock-dependent livelihoods across Africa.
Dr Mbole-Kariuki stressed that PPR continues to undermine food security and disproportionately affects women and young people involved in small ruminant farming.
Beyond PPR, she noted that African countries continue to grapple with other major animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, lumpy skin disease, avian influenza and rabies, all of which affect productivity and trade.
Experts at the meeting emphasised that while vaccines, veterinary services and laboratories remain critical, data is increasingly becoming a key pillar of animal health governance.
Dr Mbole-Kariuki said ARIS goes beyond being a simple database.
“ARIS is not simply a data-entry tool. It is an instrument of information governance, an analytical tool and, above all, a decision-support system,” she said.
She added that the effectiveness of animal health systems depends on the quality of data, warning that incomplete or delayed information weakens surveillance and undermines policy decisions.
“Good decisions are not based on impressions; they are based on evidence,” she said.
Speaking at the workshop, the Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health, Dr Neo Mapitse, highlighted the importance of strong information systems in improving global animal health security and coordinating responses to cross-border disease outbreaks.
He said improved data systems are essential for early detection and rapid response, particularly in a world facing increasing risks from emerging and transboundary diseases.
Also addressing the meeting, EU Programme Manager for Kenya Charles Muteithia said timely and accurate data is critical in preventing disease spread and protecting livelihoods.
“Timely data is key for early detection of diseases and for safeguarding both human health and livelihoods,” he said.
The workshop is also expected to enhance participants’ technical skills in system management, data validation, analysis and reporting, with a strong focus on building national capacity.
Participants are expected to return to their countries as resource persons to support the rollout of ARIS, improve data quality and strengthen disease surveillance systems at national and regional levels.
