The purpose of the award is to establish an international collaboration consisting of a network of partners in disease-endemic countries to implement activities that allow enhanced surveillance and…

The purpose of the award is to establish an international collaboration consisting of a network of partners in disease-endemic countries to implement activities that allow enhanced surveillance and timely detection of high-consequence foreign animal and zoonotic disease threats to US agriculture and public health. The threat to US agriculture and human health comes from both accidental and intentional introduction of foreign animal and zoonotic pathogens. While the US maintains an elaborate surveillance system for foreign animal diseases (fads) through the national animal health laboratory network (nahln), the absence of a structured framework for strategic and global surveillance of transboundary high consequence animal and zoonotic diseases in endemic countries presents significant vulnerability to US livestock agriculture and public health. The USDA/aphis/VS will work directly with lifestock international, as a main implementing partner, to oversee collaborations and programs with laboratories and research organizations located in countries endemic for, or with high risk for, high consequence foreign animal and zoonotic diseases. The recipient, lifestock international, will perform the following: a) convene with USDA/aphis to help identify priority areas of action in partner laboratories b) work with USDA/aphis and develop guidelines for preparation of statements of work and application submission by collaborating lab oratories c) regularly evaluate and review program performance at collaborating laboratories (provide program evaluation and performance reports) d) promote awareness among faddl staff regarding potential opportunities for short visits to perform trainings or studies in their areas of focus e) conduct capacity building trainings in areas needed for implementation of activities by partner laboratories f) disburse and administer funds to collaborating laboratories for performance of tasks as outlined in statements of work. G) convene annual symposium involving partners/subawardees to present study findings at nbaf h) provide annual reports of performance, including summary of study results, by partner laboratories and organizations to aphis/USDA