Sheikh Technical Veterinary School Kampala , January 2012

1. Sheikh Technical Veterinary School Kampala, January 2012

2. Present Extent of Pastoral Livestock Production Systemsin the Horn of AfricaCountries STVS barren pastoral arid pastoral sub-humid mixed farming systems Source: FAO. 2007. Gridded livestock of the world 2007, by G.R.W. Wint and T.P. Robinson. Rome, pp 131.

3. The Somali Ecosystem features • Extending to all IGAD countries with a high mobility • Holding 80% of the worlds camel population • Supporting between 5 and 40 head of cattle per km² • Support between 5 and 120 sheep/goats (shoats) /km² • Low potential for irrigation and agricultural intensification • Generally endangered by degradation through overexploitation • Providing subsistence to 25 million pastoralists and more than 34 million agro-pastoralists

4. The Somali Ecosystem and socio-economy • Pastoral livestock production is the major economic resource base ( 70-80% of pop) • Before 1990, Somalia leading export of live animals in Africa • After war, exports dropped to low levels due to • Uncontrolled animal diseases of trade importance (PPR, FMD, Brucellosis, Rift valley fever...) • High mortalities and loss of animals • Series of bans on any attempt to resume exports

5. Somali Ecosystem cultural values • Livestock and gender • Female: Small animals (goat / sheeps) for daily support of households • Lack of access to education, meant for domestic labour • Complete separation between boys and girls from childhood • Males : Large animals (camels and cattle) for bigger family issues

6. The Somali Ecosystem • Constraints • Survive on export but victim of repetitive export bans • Increasing international sanitary standards and trade barriers • High mobility of pastoral livestock within Somali ecosystem means high risks of trans-boundary animal disease transfer • >15 years of absence of education , result in dwindling numbers of ageing animal health experts/professionals • Limited knowledge and management skills, leading to inefficiency at down stream production level

7. Why Sheikh Technical Veterinary School? • Concept • Training a new generation of technically qualified professionals to support the Somali export system • A regional residential training system will provide solutions at regional level ( pastoral nature of the people) • A specific curriculum is needed to address the uniqueSomali pastoral production and export oriented system

8. STVS background ( as TN project) • 1998: First concept, developed out of Itinerant Training Programmes • 2001: OAU-IBAR authorising STVS to be initiated under its auspices • January 2002 – April 2004 • Identification of suitable site • Award of 60 hectares for the veterinary school; • Recruitment and training tutors; • Development of 3 years curriculum • May – October 2004 • First intake ( 17 students) • July 2007Full completion of first training cycle • Construction and equipment of core facilities

9. 2007 Class in temporary room in a hotel in Sheikh

10. 2nd Year Students after Field Practical in Wajaale June 2010 Subjects: Restraining cattle, blood sampling, tick collection, and vaccination

11. STVS student intake numbers since 2005

12. STVS Student intake by region from 2007 to 2010

13. Current status of the School • Staff qualifications:3 Ph D; 8 M.Sc.; 4 B Sc.; 11 Diploma Holders • Total course attendance to date:69 Diploma graduates, 111students in diploma courses (27 females) • Employment of graduates to date:total 89 % (Private sector; NGOs; Public sector) • Courses currently offered:Diploma in Livestock Health Sciences (DLH) Diploma in Livestock Product Development and Entrepreneurship ( DLD) • Short courses • Course on recognition of Trans-boundary Animal DiseasesShort term course on Basic Laboratory Diagnostic Techniques for Field VeterinariansShort term course on Dairy Product HygieneShort term course on ELISA TechniquesShort term course on Geographic Information System (GIS) • Distance learning: Slaughterhouse design and management

14. STVS Reference Center • Information node (partnership with IGAD/LPI) • Resource centre (library with repository of documents and e-resources) • Research on pastoral livestock systems • Distance education (certificates) • Short term training (continuous professional development) • Outreach services (vaccination, treatment, disease investigation and control)

15. STVS and HED • Achievements (STVS contribution): • Support local relevant institutions with ASALs ( pastoral communities) • Ministry of Livestock:policy/strategy design • Private sectors: bench work at the export (vaccination, testing, certification... ) • NGOs • Lifting of the export ban (>10 years of ban on RFV) • Resuming export ( > 4.5M from SL and PL for 2011) • Somali free from Rinderpest in 2010 • Still Challenges and HED contribution • Limited research on pastoral livestock systems • Limited skills at community level • Limited skilled/empowered females

16. From Project to Regional Institution Ownership, Governance, Administrative Support Facilitation of fund raising Regional Integration Needs & demands definition Increased visibility Technical Advice Data exchange Research co-operation Course accreditation Academic mentoring Staff exchange

17. Thank you for your attention