Summary of the P3V webinar (5/5): Transferability of the P3V model and prospects for extension to other countries

On 26 November 2025, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD), organised a webinar on the impact and capitalisation of the ‘Professionalisation of Veterinary Para-professionals’ Project (P3V). This event aimed to highlight the Project’s results, the lessons learned from its implementation, and the prospects for consolidating and sustaining its achievements.

This article is part of a series of five contributions from this webinar, each corresponding to a presentation. After a first article devoted to a general presentation of the P3V Project, a second dedicated to analysing its impacts and the lessons learned from its implementation, a third focusing on analysing the real needs of livestock farmers, and a fourth devoted to capitalising on approaches, tools and lessons learned, this fifth article focuses on the transferability of the approaches and tools developed as part of the P3V Project.

This fifth article is based on the presentation given by Dr Holly Hufnagel, who led the WOAH study on the impact of the P3V Project, as well as on the conditions for transferability and the prospects for extending its approaches to other national contexts.

However, this presence in the field is not always accompanied by an appropriate institutional and regulatory framework.

A study conducted by the OMSA in 2022 highlights several persistent limitations:

• Only 68% of countries officially recognise VPPs.
• 44% have legislation governing their qualifications.
• 38% formally define their status.
• 35% specify the terms and conditions for supervision by veterinarians.
•  30% have a statutory order regulating both veterinarians and VPPs.

This gap between the reality on the ground and existing institutional frameworks explains the interest in the transferability of the approaches developed by the P3V project.

These elements constitute a toolkit, resulting from the capitalisation of the P3V, intended to be mobilised and adapted according to the institutional, regulatory and operational realities specific to each country.

A decision-making tool to identify transfer needs

To support this reflection, the presentation introduced a decision tree enabling countries and interested stakeholders to assess the advisability of transferring certain components of P3V.  This tool is based on a series of key questions, including:

• Does the current coverage of Veterinary Services meet the needs of livestock farmers?
• Are VPPs present and active in the field?
• Do they enjoy clear legal recognition?
• Are their roles and responsibilities defined and regulated?
• Are relations between veterinarians and VPPs structured or conflictual?
• Is the training curricula harmonised with WOAH standards?
• Does initial training give sufficient emphasis to practical skills?

Guiding principles for effective transferability

The presentation highlighted several key principles that should guide any transferability initiative.
Firstly, each country has its own specific context. It is therefore essential to carry out an in-depth assessment, identify the available levers and prioritise actions according to institutional capacities and identified needs. Secondly, transferability must be part of a gradual and pragmatic approach. Not all aspects of P3V need to be implemented simultaneously; some actions can be carried out in parallel, while others can be implemented sequentially.

Finally, the success of the transfer depends on an inclusive and collaborative approach involving all stakeholders in animal health. As the speaker pointed out, the transformation of systems cannot be driven by a single actor but is the result of a collective and concerted effort.

The animal health ecosystem at the heart of the process

The transferability of P3V is part of a systemic vision of animal health. The ecosystem involved includes:

• Livestock farmers;
• VPPs and veterinarians;
• Training institutions;
• Ministries responsible for livestock farming, agriculture and education;
• Departments of Veterinary Services;
• Professional bodies and associations;
• Public and private actors, as well as non-governmental organisations.

In this configuration, change can be initiated at different levels, depending on the levers available, and progress in successive stages.

Multiple entry points to initiate the transfer process

The presentation identified several possible entry points, depending on the actors involved:

• VPP associations can strengthen their structure, carry out advocacy work and develop continuing education;
• training institutions can undertake curriculum reviews, strengthen practical training and formalise internship agreements;
• Ministries can request PVS missions, revise regulatory frameworks and develop national Veterinary Services’ strategies.
• Veterinary associations can help improve consultation and collaboration with VPPs.
• NGOs can support diagnostics, awareness-raising among livestock farmers and dialogue between stakeholders.

These initiatives may be carried out in a complementary manner, depending on national priorities and contexts.

Conclusion

This fifth webinar contribution highlights that the transferability of the P3V project depends above all on the adoption of approaches, the mobilisation of stakeholders and a detailed understanding of local contexts.

Rather than a fixed model, P3V offers a reference framework and a toolkit to support animal health system reforms in a gradual, inclusive and tailored manner.

Concluding this series of articles, this reflection opens up concrete prospects for the future of Veterinary Services and the professionalisation of veterinary paraprofessionals at the regional level and beyond.