Emphasis on transport and slaughter at the 3rd cycle training of animal welfare focal points in Nairobi

In Africa, the training of National Focal Points (NFP) for animal welfare began in 2010 with a first cycle seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, attended by all NFPs across Africa. The subsequent training followed in Maseru, Lesotho in 2018, the last training for animal welfare NFPs in the region.

This seminar marked the third cycle of  training in Africa, following the training events in 2010 and 2018, and was aimed at 28 English-speaking African Members. It was a well-structured and participatory session that covered a wide range of topics, including animal welfare in emergencies and aquatic animals, while also addressing regional needs in the present operational environment. After more than 6 years of hiatus, older and newly designated Focal Points greatly benefited from the workshop.

The training focused on two technical areas in particular :

• transport of live animals (by road and by sea)
• slaughter for human consumption

The WOAH Representative for Eastern Africa, Dr Neo Mapitse, while delivering his opening remarks, reminded the NFPs of their vital contributions and the active involvement of their WOAH Delegates in the standard-setting process. He encouraged the participants, emphasising that their participation in this process is critical to improving animal health and welfare in their countries.

To set the scene for the workshop, Dr Leopoldo Stuardo, shared a brief but comprehensive overview of the WOAH Global Animal Welfare Strategy with the participants. He emphasised the need for the NFPs to acquaint themselves with and understand the document which was adopted by the WOAH Members as the first Global Animal Welfare Strategy.It was built on experiences and outcomes of regional animal welfare strategies and platforms already implemented across the world and aims to provide continuing direction and coordination of WOAH’s actions to achieve sustained improvements in this field.

On his part, WOAH Delegate and Director of Veterinary Services of Kenya, Dr Allan Azegele, while opening the seminar, encouraged the participants to continue to engage with the WOAH Standards, adopt and domesticate the relevant guidelines in their countries, as well as collaborate with all relevant stakeholders in a coordinated manner in order to safeguard the animal welfare as this contributes to production, animal health, food safety and trade.

Speaking on the context for Africa’s Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa (AWSA), Dr Huyam Salih -Director of AU-IBAR, acknowledged the necessity of enhancing the capacity of NFPs to address technical gaps and improve performance within the current financial constraints. NFPs are instrumental in the domestication and implementation of AWSA, as well as the monitoring of progress. She further, highlighted the gains made on the recent 2024 AU Ban on trade of donkey skins, and the Animal Welfare Platform for Africa (AWPA).

In attendance were other international agencies and alliances including FAO, ICFAW,  IFC, SSAFE and World Animal Protection, who shared key updates on animal welfare components within their various contexts, along with several individual experts, affiliated to WOAH.

The training was attended by four WOAH Delegates : Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, and South Sudan, whilst 37 % of the attending country representatives (including a delegation from Kenya) were women.

The same training will be replicated for French-speaking NFPs in the course of 2025.