As a country rich in biodiversity and wildlife – how do you deal with pandemic prevention?

Context

As we are slowly moving out of the most imminent threats from Covid 19, each country is grappling with the longer-term consequences of this pandemic, including taking care to prevent similar health emergencies in the future. About 700.000 unknown viruses in wild mammals and birds are estimated to have the potential to jump over to humans. Which is why preventing the spillover at the source, i.e. before pathogens spill over from wildlife to humans, is of such importance. This encompasses looking into ecosystem disturbance, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife exploitation, among others, which can increase the risk for spillover events.

As International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, we help translate the commitment, knowledge and political will of our diverse members into impact by providing and communicating evidence, helping to design countermeasures, and supporting and evaluating interventions—finding solutions that work while concurrently improving health, equity, and well-being for all species—through a One Health approach.

To drive actual changes on the ground we broker knowledge and insights; we encourage and empower evidence-based orientation and regulation. By offering guidance to involved communities and authorities, we help change behavior and improve policy implementation.

Our two offers

A. Without going through the approval process of the Alliance’s Charter and Operational Manual, you as a government agency, ministry or other relevant structure can benefit by becoming an Affiliate and getting to know us:

  • Knowledge of relevant interventions to reduce health risks
  • Easy access to and interaction with One Health scientists, experts and stakeholders, with a focus on health risks associated with wildlife trade.
  • Connecting with the Alliance’s network of 100+ organisations, including The World Bank Group, UNEP, IUCN and WOAH
  • Subscribe to our mailing list and take part in our expert talks and other formats to keep up to date with the latest developments in the community.
  • Twinning you with experts/ actors from our network to collaborate over a longer period.

B. The Alliance can also provide specific support if your interest goes beyond following our work. By helping you identify your pain points in handling health risks (in particular zoonotic risks) from contact with wildlife and handling wildlife and wildlife products by offering technical expertise and input in tackling specific questions, including on the ground consulting with you on specific questions,

This may include the following aspects, as well as others:

  • Analysis of the current wildlife trade; mapping traded species and the pathogens they may carry, incl seasonal risk patterns
  • Identifying critical control points along the wildlife trade chain: mapping/ analysis of stakeholders and their interests and behavioral patterns; work with focus groups on “knowledge, attitude, practices“ on social and economic factors of trading and dealing with wildlife
  • Identifying realistic alternatives towards risk reduction and formulating concrete recommendations what to change and how
  • Inter-institutional contact and exchange: facilitating between line ministries (incl. health/ public health; veterinary, agriculture/ livestock, forest, environment) towards joint activities planning, monitoring and data pooling
  • Supporting alignment with international agreements

If you think that the specific support (Offer B) is exactly what you need, please express your interest by the end of June 2023 and get in touch with us.

We’d love to explore ways we might support your own efforts!