The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM) and the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria(UP), organise the workshop titled “Strengthening ERFAN through the support of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborative Centres in the SADC Region” with the participation of representatives of National Veterinary Laboratories and Faculty of Veterinary Science from 8 SADC Region countries.

The workshop took place at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa on 4th and 5th October 2017. The workshop provided the opportunity for invited partners from the SADC Region from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and for IZSAM as well as the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International organisations to develop an action plan for the next 4 years to operationalized ERFAN to fulfil its objectives.

The objectives of the workshop was: to develop an action plan and road map following the workshop in Teramo in March 2017; to discuss on research activities, project proposals and technological innovation with the participants; to strengthen ERFAN through the support of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborative Centres in the SADC Region and to identify future areas of collaboration and research priorities in the SADC Region.