From 22–24 January 2025, the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) hosted its Global Voices Conference, themed “Celebrating Diversity in Biosafety & Biosecurity,” in Arusha, Tanzania. The three-day event brought together 216 delegates— which included, experts, practitioners, and policymakers from 55 countries—to discuss critical issues and share innovative solutions in biosafety and biosecurity.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) supported a delegation of 10 animal health professionals to attend the conference. These participants were competitively selected from over 100 applicants based on the relevance of their work and their previous engagement in WOAH initiatives, particularly those under the Fortifying Institutional Resilience Against Biological Threats (FIRABioT) project. This project is funded by Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program and is a key component of WOAH’s Biological Threat Reduction Strategy—adopted in 2015—to mitigate risks from the accidental or deliberate release of animal pathogens.
FIRABioT: Enhancing Capacity in Africa
The FIRABioT project was launched in response to the heightened need for robust emergency preparedness and response systems, a need underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent outbreaks. Its primary goal is to enhance the capacity of WOAH and its Members particularly in Africa to effectively respond to events involving the deliberate or accidental release of animal pathogens.
Through the project, WOAH has implemented various capacity-building activities. These include national trainings on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) diagnosis, regional training on bioinformatics and data management, risk and crisis communication, biological waste management, and support for laboratory twinning projects.
The project is addressing a significant challenge in Africa: the scarcity of animal health professionals with expertise in bio risk management, which has sometimes necessitated the involvement of public health experts to ensure effective training. The support for the delegation to the conference was also an effort to address this gap. By attending the conference, the delegates hoped to gain a deeper understanding of global biosafety and biosecurity practices and expand their professional networks.
During the conference, Ian Peter Busuulwa, Project Officer for Biological Threat Reduction at WOAH’s Sub-Regional Representation for Eastern Africa, delivered a presentation titled “Advancing Biosafety and Biosecurity in Animal Health in Africa.” His presentation highlighted a range of WOAH’s work on biosafety and biosecurity of relevance to Africa, and shared the activities under the FIRABioT project, their impact, and the lessons learnt from their implementation.
Photo of Ian Peter Busuulwa, Project Officer for Biological Threat Reduction, delivering WOAH’s presentation. Photo © E. Mampembe 2025
- Mr Ian Peter Busuulwa, Project Officer for Biological Threat Reduction at WOAH’s Sub-Regional Representation for Eastern Africa
In addition to the presentation, three participants from WOAH’s delegation contributed to the event with their poster presentations:
Photos of Ms. Patience Mushanawani receiving her award (left) and standing next to her winning poster (right) Photo © I.Busuulwa (woah) 2025
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference provided ample opportunities for networking and cultural exchange. Delegates connected with professionals from diverse backgrounds, sharing experiences and insights on biosafety and biosecurity.
‘One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was the opportunity to bridge the gap between advanced biosafety and biosecurity measures and the practical implementation of these frameworks, particularly in Africa. The emphasis on inclusivity and building global partnerships resonated deeply, as it reinforced the importance of collective action in tackling bio-threats and bio-risks.’
– Dr. Magrecia Hausiku – Chief Veterinarian, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Namibia
Looking Forward
WOAH’s support for the delegation to attend the IFBA Global Voices Conference 2025 reflects its commitment to engaging its Members and stakeholders in advancing biosafety and biosecurity in Africa and globally. The insights gained and connections made by the delegates will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening global health security and mitigating biological risks.
For more information, visit the IFBA Global Voices Conference website.
Below is the full list of WOAH’s delegation.
