Animal health emergencies are evolving, and at times with devastating impacts. From African swine fever to highly pathogenic avian influenza to lumpy skin disease, animal health diseases have the potential to affect livelihoods, pushing already food insecure
communities closer to the brink.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Management Centre for Animal Health (EMC-AH) works in partnership with internal divisions, country and regional offices, and international partners, to reduce the threat of high impact
animal diseases to food security, agricultural development and trade. From November 2020 to October 2021, EMC-AH provided direct support to 13 countries to strengthen their preparedness and response capacity
to reduce the impact of animal health emergencies at all levels, working closely with the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases to deliver country-level support.
In line with FAO’s Strategic Framework, EMC-AH looks to the four betters (better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life) to guide its work. Improving the health of livestock contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), in particular: No Poverty (SDG 1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), by helping to ensure more sustainable livelihoods for rural populations.
This annual report summarizes the successes of and the work implemented by EMC-AH during the 12-month reporting period. It demonstrates the Centre’s
commitment to supporting a world prepared to manage high impact animal health emergencies, ensuring better lives and livelihoods for all.
The work reported in this publication is made possible thanks to the financial and technical support of the Centre’s resource partners* and other organizations. With continued support, EMC-AH, as the global centre for animal health emergency management, can
maintain its assistance to governments as they manage animal health events in their countries.
Rein Paulsen
Director, Office of Emergencies and Resilience
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Keith Sumption
Chief Veterinary Officer/Leader
Animal Health Programme
Officer-in-Charge daily matters
Animal Production and Health Division,
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
*United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs
United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Global Affairs Canada
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation of France