Month: October 2025

Press Conference: The official Handover of the Secretariat of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade from GIZ to WOAH

Posted on by Paula Grabietz

Abu Dhabi, 9 October 2025 – After four years, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is officially handing over the Secretariat of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Launched in 2021 at the initiative of the German government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alliance was established to address one of the often-overlooked drivers of pandemic emergence: the trade in wildlife. From the outset, the Alliance has been guided by the conviction that it is not wildlife itself, but human activity that poses major health risks—and that the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems is deeply interconnected. For this reason, the Alliance has consistently promoted an integrative One Health approach.

In today’s interconnected world, the Alliance’s mission is more relevant than ever. Thanks to its vibrant and growing network of over 500 individual experts and 180 member organizations, the Alliance is able to provide integrated and holistic solutions that have reached more than 12 million people worldwide. Its work is shaped by diverse perspectives, local knowledge, and scientific expertise—demonstrated through 27 projects in 24 countries to date. Additionally, Alliance members have participated in 36 international conferences, translating field insights into high-level policy dialogues and long-term impact.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has supported the Alliance’s development since the beginning, with GIZ serving as the host of the Secretariat. We are sincerely grateful for this support and the strong foundation it has helped build.

Today, we are pleased to announce that the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will take over as the host of the Alliance’s Secretariat. WOAH offers a robust institutional framework, with a mandate and mission that closely align with those of the Alliance. WOAH fully supports the Alliance’s long-term objective: to significantly reduce the risk of zoonotic spillovers and strengthen primary prevention efforts in the One Health framework. One of WOAH’s key strengths lies in its ability to link scientific expertise with policymaking. Through its network of 183 member countries, WOAH can help rapidly align evidence-based solutions with national and global policy needs—maximizing the Alliance’s impact. In addition, WOAH brings decades of experience in coordinating international networks and will play a crucial role in ensuring consistent communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among Alliance members. As a member of the Quadripartite (with WHO, FAO, and UNEP), WOAH will also contribute to greater synergy and visibility for primary pandemic prevention efforts related to wildlife trade.

We – the joint Secretary team from GIZ and WOAH – are truly thankful for WOAHs engagement and commitment to become the new Secretariat host. Together we look forward to the next chapter in the Alliance’s journey being convinced that the Alliance could not have wished for a more passionate organization to carry its mission forward.

We extend our thanks to BMZ and GIZ for their dedication and leadership over the past four years.

Finally, we would like to express our deep appreciation for the outstanding community of scientists, practitioners, decision-makers, and many more that form the heart of the Alliance. Your commitment and expertise continue to drive meaningful change toward a healthier, safer future—for people, wildlife, animals, and the entire planet.

Photo: (from left to rigth) Jamie K. Reaser, member of the Alliance Steering Committee; Jochen Renger, Director, GIZ; Dr. Michael Nagel, Head of Programme, GIZ and Claire Cayol Project Officer, World Organisation for Animal Health. | © Claudia Mayer, GIZ

Event Report: Strengthening Policy and Technical Frameworks for Primary Pandemic Prevention at Wildlife Trade Interfaces in Latin America (CONTACT Phase | )

Posted on by Paula Grabietz

A large share of emerging infectious diseases of humans are zoonotic, with traded wildlife species known to be capable of hosting at least three-quarters of known zoonotic viruses. Wildlife markets, where stressed animals from various species are kept in close proximity, create high-risk conditions for zoonotic spillover, threatening human health, wildlife, and biodiversity. Along live wild animal trade chains, whether legal or illegal, risky interfaces and behaviors promote the transmission of pathogens that can affect human, domestic animal and wildlife health. However, in many countries there remains a lack of reliable data and informed frameworks to effectively address health risks in wildlife trade.

The Government Consultancy Facility – short CONTACT – Missions aim to use the Alliance´s broad expertise to provide context-specific multidisciplinary consultancy services to meet specific country needs regarding primary prevention measures and interventions at the wildlife-human interface. In the first CONTACT Missions the Government of Bolivia, Guatemala and Perú collaborated with the Wildlife Conservation Society and other Alliance experts to better understand wildlife trade dynamics and critical control points, identify key gaps and needs for health risk reduction from wildlife trade, and develop technical guidelines and policy change recommendations to address short-term gaps and reduce risks for zoonotic spillover in their country.

In this webinar, WCS health and counter-wildlife trafficking experts from the three countries shared insights from the collaborations with their government partners. Speakers highlighted challenges, successes and co-benefits to addressing health risks from wildlife trade through the CONTACT approach, including overall strengthening of awareness of health risks amongst decision-makers and of transectoral communication and coordination. The consultations demonstrated that One Health implementation to reduce health risks from wildlife trade requires balanced attention to both technical and governance dimensions. Key successes included diverse products from expert consultancies that addressed short-term national needs:
In Bolivia the collaboration led to the design of a platform structure for the country’s first system for health surveillance and a systematic analysis of zoonotic risks in trafficked wildlife and a legislative proposal to approve it.
Enhancing biosafety and wildlife management capabilities were the key recommendations in Guatemala, and a Zoonosis Risk Map highlighting critical control points for wildlife trade was created that serves as a strategic tool for surveillance and public policies regarding pandemic prevention.
In Perú emphasis was placed on understanding the risks involved in wildlife imports and exports. Other aspects assessed were the bushmeat trade and health monitoring in rescue centres. The results orient to improved intersectoral wildlife health regulations and management strategies for sustainable, health orientated wildlife trade.

A key challenge tackled in all projects was improving institutional multi-sectoral collaboration and clarifying responsibilities—issues that remain crucial for addressing long-term needs for pandemic prevention at wildlife-human interfaces. The projects made lasting impacts on reducing the risks associated with wildlife trade, elevating this issue amongst key government stakeholders and laying the groundwork for more coordinated and effective prevention and response to human and animal health risks from wildlife in the future.