WOAH training of Focal Points for Veterinary Laboratories (cycle III) French (Dakar)

From 29 – 31 July 2025, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) conducted the third cycle of its Regional Training Seminar for French-speaking National Focal Points for Veterinary Laboratories in Dakar, Senegal. This seminar follows previous editions held in Tunis, Tunisia (2018) and Harare, Zimbabwe (2016), continuing WOAH’s commitment to building laboratory capacity and regional collaboration across Africa.

The same regional training seminar for English-speaking WOAH National Focal Points for Veterinary Laboratories took place from 8 – 10 July 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana. 

WOAH National Focal Points for Veterinary Laboratories—typically senior laboratory professionals leading national veterinary reference laboratories—play a crucial role in supporting their country’s WOAH Delegate carry out responsibilities related to veterinary laboratories. These responsibilities include contributing to the development and implementation of WOAH laboratory standards, strengthening national laboratory capacity, and fostering participation in regional and global laboratory networks.

The training featured a dynamic mix of expert presentations, country experience sharing, group discussions, and a field visit to the Inter-Governmental School for Veterinary Sciences and Medicine (Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires – EISMV) in Dakar – a WOAH Collaborating Cente for the official training of veterinarians, diagnosis of infectious animal diseases and zoonoses, and control of veterinary drugs in West and Central Africa. Topics covered included the WOAH standard-setting process, laboratory evaluation tools, innovations in diagnostics, emergency management, biological threat reduction, and regional laboratory networking and collaboration.

WOAH extends its sincere appreciation to the Government of the United Kingdom and the European Union for their generous financial support, and to the Government of Senegal for graciously hosting the training. We also thank the dedicated team of experts and partners who contributed technically to the success of the seminar, including representatives from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the African Union Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU PANVAC) and the Inter-Governmental School for Veterinary Sciences and Medicine (Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires – EISMV) in Dakar.