The first activity cycle

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Veterinary Institutions
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Member Countries
Africa & Italy

A cross-continental partnership

Key achievements

The first activity cycle produced tangible results across ERFAN’s three strategic pillars, contributing to stronger laboratory capacities, enhanced scientific cooperation and sustainable institutional partnerships.

Improving diagnostic capacities through networking activities

  • Working groups:
    50 online meetings (301 participants), 20 face-to-face meetings (250 participants)

  • SOPs and protocols:
    47 shared procedures, reference materials produced for CBPP and Brucellosis diagnosis

  • Interlaboratory tests:
    3 proficiency tests organised (Brucella CVL Harare, CBPP BNVL Gaborone, WND IZS Teramo)

Pillar 1

Through its thematic Working Groups, ERFAN enabled experts from different countries to jointly define regional priorities, develop common action plans and exchange technical expertise, fostering long-term collaboration across the Network.

Capacity buildings through training and technology transfer

  • Elearning:
    44 courses, 2869 participants from 30 countries, 23 scientific topics covered, 144 training days, 483 hours, 109 lecturers, 22 online dialogues in asynchronous mode

  • Residential training:
    8 courses, 86 participants, a total of 60 institutions and 36 countries involved

Pillar 2

Training activities were designed in response to priorities identified by the Working Groups and combined online learning, residential courses, laboratory practical sessions and technology transfer to maximise their impact across the Network.

Institutional capacity Building through research programs

  • Research projects:
    32 proposals submitted to the Secretariat, 4 Small Scale Research Projects directly funded (12 institutions involved, 2 WOAH RC committed, 11 countries)

  • Doctorates and masters:
    5 doctorates/masters funded, 14 institutions involved, 4 RC WOAH engaged, 12 countries participating

  • Funding opportunities:
    43 opportunities presented

Pillar 3

Research activities encouraged the development of regional collaborative projects, strengthening scientific partnerships and creating new opportunities for African and Italian institutions to work together.
For further information about the first activity cycle, please contact erfan2@izs.it