Veterinary services heads, national veterinary association presidents and network focal points from ECOWAS and Sahelian member states meet in Lomé, Togo, from 6 to 8 October 2026 for the 11th annual meeting of the region’s animal health networks.
The meeting is convened under the theme “Strengthening the surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases in the ECOWAS region.”
According to the Economic Community of West African States, it aims to consolidate regional governance of animal health, strengthen coordination between stakeholders, and adopt strategic and operational tools for the prevention, early detection and control of transboundary animal diseases.
Participants include focal points from the regional networks of animal health laboratories (RESOLAB) and epidemiological surveillance (RESEPI).
Representatives from the Regional Animal Health Centre (RAHC), the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Disease Control are also attending, alongside technical and financial partners.
The programme includes the presentation to heads of veterinary services of the findings of a comparative study of national regulations and legislation on animal health, animal welfare and zoosanitary regulations governing trade in livestock between Sahelian and coastal countries.
Participants will also examine the epidemiological situation regarding the main transboundary animal diseases in ECOWAS member states, and will analyse and adopt the electronic platform of the Regional Animal Health Information System (RAHIS).
The platform was developed by the RAHC and is intended to improve the collection, analysis, sharing and use of animal health data for rapid and coordinated decision-making.
On the sidelines of the meeting, a gathering of ECOWAS ministers responsible for animal health will be held to endorse regional strategies for the protection and conservation of donkeys by 2030, for the prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease in West Africa (2026–2030) and for the prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza and the associated action plans (2026–2031).
The annual meeting is organised by the RAHC, a specialised agency of the ECOWAS Commission. Originally based in Bamako, Mali, it is now located in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Established in 2012, the RAHC is responsible for strengthening regional cooperation on animal health and welfare.
Its primary remit is to coordinate and harmonise the policies and interventions of ECOWAS member states in the prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses.
It also contributes to strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving regional information and notification systems on animal diseases, and sharing information and raising awareness among veterinary services, professionals and livestock farmers’ organisations.
The RAHC also works to develop the capacities of veterinary services and to strengthen partnerships at regional, continental and international levels.
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