Context

The Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services (PHOVAPS) was established as a mechanism to facilitate regional collaboration in developing programmes to strengthen animal health and production services across the Pacific.

Livestock play a significant role in the cultures of Pacific Island countries and territories and are important to their economies and food security. Animal production services are under-resourced across the Pacific and veterinary services are sparse with livestock farmers in many countries having limited access to veterinary services.

In September 2004, at the first Regional Conference of Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Services (MOAF) organised by SPC, Ministers recognised the need to strengthen livestock production systems and address the growing threats from exotic diseases, subsequently recommending the establishment of PHOVAPS. 

Objectives

PHOVAPS’s vision is to strengthen animal health and production systems contributing to sustainable livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and resilient Pacific communities.

PHOVAPS has a mandate to realise its vision through the following activities:

  • Promote animal health and production agendas across the region and globally through advocacy and policy strengthening.
  • Strengthen resource mobilisation and partnerships to support implementing animal health and production priorities in countries.
  • Strengthen technical capacities for animal health and production services through research and development initiatives.
  • Promote up-to-date information on emerging issues and the state of animal health and production across the region through effective networking amongst PHOVAPS members.

Areas of Targeted Work

  • Paravet training
  • Improving provision of vet services across Pacific Island countries and territories and better coordination of volunteer veterinarians across the Pacific
  • Improve disease surveillance through training of paravets, and field staff in describing clinical signs of disease
  • Implement new animal health policies and disease control programmes under a One Health umbrella
  • All member countries of PHOVAPS to have medium to long-term strategies for animal welfare; welfare standards, and welfare laws.
  • Training of staff and farmers in animal welfare and management
  • Improve Livestock production, nutrition and management through husbandry and management skills of farmers.
  • Integrated stray dog management programmes
  • Research and innovation into tropical livestock production and production of safe and balanced stock feed 
  • Slaughter facilities and veterinary public health

Partners

  • The Pacific Community (SPC)
  • World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
  • Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • CSIRO
  • New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (NZ MPI)
  • Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
  • Reference animal health laboratories including CSIRO, New Zealand MPI, Biosecurity and other referees from New Zealand and Australia, and other relevant regional and national development partners and stakeholders.

Country

All SPC member countries and territories each have representation with PHOVAPS.

American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Wallis and Futuna, Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States of America.

Contact Person Elenoa Salele, SPC Pacific Heads of Veterinary and Animal Production Services (PHOVAPS) Network Coordinator, [email protected] 

Project Category
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au
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pf
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nr
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nz
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pw
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vu
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fr
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Project Duration:  05/04/2024 – 31/12/2026
Donor: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, MFAT New Zealand, World Organisation for Animal Health-WOAH