While it features real solutions, final content will undergo review by a technical working group and incorporate feedback from a validation workshop planned for December 2020. Please see these as examples only, and not a definitive list.
Solution /Innovation:

Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) and SET Biothreat Detection Module

Link Envelope
Verified

Organization:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

For more information:

Technical contact:
Dr. Sophie VonDobschuetz
Animal Health Officer, Global surveillance coordinator for ECTAD
FAO
Sophie.VonDobschuetz@fao.org
More info, related website links:

http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/tools_SET.html
Related PDF documents:
ca2747en.pdf
I9143EN.pdf
Categories:
Camel, Dairy, Frameworks and tools, Healthy diets & Nutrition, One Health, Other breed, Pig, Policy, Poultry, and Red meat
Has been implemented in:
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Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda
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Challenge

In recent years, outbreaks of animal diseases have had a devastating impact on communities’ livelihoods and food security. In addition, many animal diseases can spread to humans (known as zoonoses), sometimes with lethal outcomes. To reduce the risk posed by these pathogens, it is necessary to establish a strong animal disease surveillance system that is capable of timely exchange of information with other sectors, such as public health and the environment. However, in many countries, the animal health systems are underdeveloped and underfunded, a factor that places these nations at a disadvantage when they are required to prepare for animal diseases, including zoonoses. In 2017, GHSA countries in Africa requested FAO for a mechanism to provide more detailed and specific information on gaps and guidance on recommendations to improve their animal health surveillance systems. This led to the development of the FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET).Later in 2019, a Global Affairs Canada-funded project on strengthening resilience against agro-terrorism and agro-crimes that is implemented by a consortium between FAO, OIE and INTERPOL requested to use SET to better understand surveillance capacities in their beneficiary countries and asked for a specific module to assess the capacity of countries to detect agro-terrorism and agro-crime against animal health. This led to the development of the SET Biothreat Detection Module.

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Solution

SET was developed in 2017 to provide countries a tool for the detailed and comprehensive evaluation of national animal disease surveillance systems, both for zoonotic and non-zoonotic animal diseases. This is done using an Excel-based tool with 90 indicators score from 1(low to no capacity) to 4 (full capacity) reflecting the country’s capacity. Graphics depicting a system’s strengths and weaknesses are then automatically generated. Scoring is based on information obtained from interviews with stakeholders at all levels of the surveillance system, along with a thorough review of relevant documentation, during a 10 to 12-day mission in the target country. Results are then be used to develop country-specific recommendations and action plan to address identified gaps in close collaboration with veterinary services.
SET is now incorporating a Biothreat Detection Module that was developed by FAO, OIE and INTERPOL animal health and law enforcement experts based on literature, and was revised by 14 biothreat reduction experts with different technical and geographic backgrounds. It will be piloted in early 2021 after which it will be available for wider use along with SET. The module has 32 indicators related to the surveillance and investigation of potential terrorist or criminal animal health events.
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Impact

To date, SET evaluations have been conducted in 18 countries in Africa and Asia. The resulting action plans of the evaluations have been incorporated by ministries, especially of agriculture, into their strategic plans to improve their surveillance system. SET findings have also directly guided the planned support activities by FAO and by other projects. Moreover, SET evaluations are recommended to be re-done every 3-5 years to monitor progress in national animal health surveillance capacities.
The SET Biothreat Module will be used in the target countries of the GAC-funded agro-terrorism and agro-crime project in North Africa, Near East and Southeast Asia. Results from SET and its Biothreat Detection Module will provide a baseline of country capacity for animal disease surveillance including early detection and investigation of potential terrorist or criminal events involving zoonotic and non-zoonotic animal diseases. These results will inform the subsequent capacity building efforts of the GAC-funded project on strengthening resilience to agro-terrorism and agrocrimes. Countries may also use it to inform resilience-building efforts against agro-terrorism and agro-crime.

Category

Camel, Dairy, Frameworks and tools, Healthy diets & Nutrition, One Health, Other breed, Pig, Policy, Poultry, and Red meat

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