The Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) was launched on May 24, 2004, the signing date of the “FAO-WOAH GF-TADs General Agreement”.

GF-TADs is a joint initiative of the  Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to achieve the prevention, detection and control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and in particular, to address their original and global dimensions. The initiative combines the strengths of both international organizations to achieve agreed common objectives.

GF-TADs is a facilitating mechanism which endeavours to empower regional alliances in the fight against TADs, to provide for capacity building and to assist in establishing programmes for the specific control of certain TADs based on regional priorities.

At the Global level, the GF-TADs Global Steering Committee (GSC) provides guidance on technical activities of global scope to be implemented by the GF-TADs Global Secretariat under the supervision and agreement of the GF-TADs Management Committee.  More information : http://www.gf-tads.org/

The GF-TADs GSC also provides strategic directions to the Regional Steering Committees (RSC) for the definition of their annual or multi-annual Action Plans and facilitates collaboration and cooperation between the global and regional levels.

Agreement of 24 May 2004, establishing the GF-TADs (gf-tads.org) 

The World Bank, the European Commission, the African Development Bank, the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) complete the list of international/multilateral financial and technical partners (members).

Starting from 6 October 2021, for a three-year tenure, the presidency of the GF-TADs is as follows :

• President : AU (AU-IBAR) Dr Nick Nwankpa, acting Director (until 31 July 2023) and Dr Huyam Salih, Director (since 1 August 2023)
• Vice-president 1 : FAO (RAF/Africa) Dr Mohammed Shamsuddin, Senior animal production and health officer, Africa
• Vice-President 2: (First African WOAH Council Member) Dr Roland Xolani Dlamini, Delegate, Eswatini

The RSC provides a platform for exchange of information to avoid overlap and to build synergies by encouraging the creation of regional alliances and partnerships and the definition of a common vision and subsequent action plan for the control of priority TADs in Africa. The RSC provides advice to pan-African or sub-regional programmes/projects and supports their governance and coordination including supporting resource mobilization efforts.

The tenth meeting of the GF-TADs Regional Steering Committee for Africa held on 6, 7 and 8 October 2021 adopted the Regional Strategy 2021 – 2025, which focuses on:

• ASF – African Swine Fever
• CBPP – Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
• FMD – Foot and Mouth Disease
• PPR – Peste des petits ruminants
• RVF – Rift Valley Fever

The Strategy is accompanied by an Action Plan or Operational Plan which covers the next two years.