As part of the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) under thematic area disease prioritisation, a two-day workshop was held from April 15-16, 2024 at the Addis Ababa Campus of International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to assess the evidence ecosystem of animal health sector in Ethiopia. The workshop has brought various stakeholders and experts working within different units of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) such as epidemiology, disease prevention, veterinary public health and its direct or indirect affiliate organisational structures including Animal Health Institute (AHI), Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA) and sub-national animal health offices. The workshop was supported by CGIAR Initiative on One Health.
In the first day of the workshop, participants answered survey questions designed to assess their institutional evidence ecosystem including evidence production, utilisation of evidence for planning, resource allocation and implementation of various activities. They also responded to questions relating to identifying factors that facilitate evidence utilisation and those that are considered barriers to evidence use in their institutes. The second day of the workshop saw the respective participants work on simulation exercises related to management of hypothetical disease outbreak progressions (taking Rift Valley Fever as an example).
Preliminary Findings
The Ministry of Agriculture and affiliate institutions have different systems that help collect and produce evidence including animal health surveillance system, Livestock Traceability System (LITS) and Management Information System (AgMIS). However, despite the existence of these systems that produce some data, most of the participants reported that expert opinion and previous reports (such as previous year report/documentation) are among the most utilized evidence types while making decisions such as planning, resource allocation and implementation of activities. During the simulation exercises, we also observed that the participants were often unable to easily identify evidence sources and types to pick and use for their decisions. Participants reported that, although some legal frameworks are available in their institute, almost all these legislations lack the ability of clearly supporting evidence production, utilisation and dissemination. These findings suggest that the culture of using research evidence is sub-optimal in the structure of the MoA, needing training in the various aspects of the evidence ecosystem.
