World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Collaborating Centre for the Economics of Animal Health - Europe Region
The Collaborating Centre for the Economics in Animal Health (CCEAH) will work with terrestrial livestock and aquatic animals, reflected in the expertise of the consortium members. The CCEAH will focus on the systematic use and training of economics of animal health methods with outcomes that are aligned with the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme. Therefore, the CCEAH will have a specific speciality in the following three areas:
- Improving methods to estimate animal disease and health burdens, where they occur, to whom and by causes and risk factors
- Improving access to and standardisation of animal disease and health burden information through the development of a shared, cloud-based knowledge engine
- Improving capacity to interpret and use animal disease and health burden information
This will be achieved by a multi-disciplinary team of economists, epidemiologists, veterinary clinicians, computer scientists and educators. The team will include early career researchers and provide PhD opportunities as it aims to grow the expertise in the discipline of animal health economics.
Activities in 2021
During 2021, two case studies will begin to apply GBADs methods on locally available data for key production systems in The Netherlands (cattle) and Norway (salmon). Each case study will comprise three broad tasks:
- Engagement and data mapping
- Population update, livestock systems classification and estimation of biomass and economic value
- Estimation of the Animal Health Loss Envelope
Also in 2021, work will be conducted to evaluate technical and strategic synergies with ongoing European projects, with an initial focus on DISCONTOOLS.
5-year Workplan: Activities, Benefits and Timeline
| Activity | Expected Benefits of these Activities | Duration (months) |
| To provide services to the OIE, in particular within the region, in the designated specialty, in support of the implementation of OIE policies and, where required, seek for collaboration with OIE Reference Laboratories | ||
| Promotion of the Collaborating Centre, raising awareness of activities and support available. | -Creating a network of European animal health economists who engage with OIE as a key point of reference for provision of systematic methods, training and opportunities for collaborative research -Increased uptake from OIE Member Countries for advice and assistance in the use of economics of animal health | Ongoing |
| Information on the economic burden of animal diseases | -Improving accessibility and visibility of data for stakeholders uses -Improving insights provided by PVS data pathway -Optimise performance and results-based management | Ongoing |
| Establish economic evaluation of animal diseases as a core practice within the OIE | -Develop the voice of the OIE in global policy dialogue by making the use of economic metrics part of normal language | Ongoing |
| To propose or develop methods and procedures that facilitate harmonisation of international standards and guidelines applicable to the designated specialty | ||
| Accepted economic and informatics methodologies and metrics are used to systematically describe and share data on the burden of animal disease | This information will be: -an adjunct to the OIE PVS Gap analysis to support investment in strengthening animal health services -systematic and transparent in nature, supporting shared learning between the regions and between public and private sectors | 0-24 |
| To carry out and/or coordinate scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other centres, laboratories or organisations | ||
| Local estimates of the burden of animal disease for production systems in countries in the European region that link with PVS and Gap analysis to direct resources to priorities Develop collaborations with in-country experts including laboratories, private companies and producer associations who will provide data and use the information produced | -Complementing the OIE’s data strategy to produce information that the Members can use to justify resource allocation to animal health programmes. -Producing a systematic baseline to use in ex-ante and ex-post economic assessments of emergency preparedness; disease control, freedom, and eradication programmes. -Optimisation of investment decisions in animal health activities which in turn lead to improved efficiency of production, and increased household income | 0-36 |
| To collect, process, analyse, publish and disseminate data and information relevant to the designated specialty | ||
| Estimate and publish the burden of animal diseases for Europe, which can be disaggregated by country and production system | -Create added value from the multiple animal health data streams already in place in Europe Promote the European region as a leader in animal health economics | 24-60 |
| To provide, within the designated specialty, scientific and technical training to personnel from OIE Member Countries | ||
| -Development of the Economics of Animal Health module (specific competency package of the framework) of the OIE’s Training Platform for the Training of Veterinary Services. -Veterinary Education Twinning opportunities will be sought with partners in the other OIE regions | -Training for decision-makers to make best use of the information produced -Training for end users (and data owners) will support the collation of accurate data including the filling of identified data gaps -Using an established OIE mechanism that will complement the establishment of further Collaborating Centres on the Economics of Animal Health (see below) | 24-60 |
| -Training the trainers and pilot testing the training material | -As above plus receiving feedback to improve training materials | |
| To organise and participate in scientific meetings and other activities on behalf of the OIE | ||
| -Establish a formal link between the OIE and the International Society for Economics and Social Sciences in Animal Health | -Establish OIE as leading contributors to recognised fora on the speciality | Ongoing |
| -Present collaborating centre activities at confirmed ISVEE Halifax 2022 special session and represent the OIE at key global economics meetings | -Explain the benefits of institutionalising joint efforts through the collaborating centre model -Encourage international partners to form other collaborating centres in the regions | 12-24 |
| To identify and maintain existing expertise, in particular within its region | ||
| -Assessments of strengths and weaknesses of each institution’s people | -Celebrating strengths and addressing gaps in expertise will grow the capability of the collaborating centre | 12-60 |
| -Develop a cohort of PhD students who are contributing to studies in this speciality | -Demonstrating inclusiveness will draw people towards the collaborating centre -Succession planning | Ongoing |
| To establish and maintain a network with other OIE Collaborating Centres designated for the same specialty, and should the need arise, with Collaborating Centres in other disciplines | ||
| -Develop a working model for the first collaborating centre of this speciality | The opportunity to shape a consistent approach to the application of animal health economics through linking with key teaching and research institutions | 0-24 |
| -Scope institutions in other regions that could form future collaborating centres in this speciality | As above | 12-60 |
| To place expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE | ||
| -Consultants will work directly on this programme of activities and also be at the OIE’s disposal for additional work | The systematic methods being developed by GBADs and used in the work of this collaborating centre will being to influence and permeate other similar research activites in this speciality | Ongoing |