Project Description

The project will develop evidence-based policy recommendations which will help governments and international organisations make informed decisions to limit the transboundary spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) whilst also minimising the impact on different socio-economic groups, particularly the poor. It will combine a retrospective epidemiological review of disease occurrence and impact in epicentre countries with anticipatory research into its potential impact in Africa.

The Goal of the project is to deliver safe smallholder poultry enterprises and poultry markets in regions affected or at risk of HPAI while also trying to minimise the potential spread of HPAI to humans.

The Purpose is to aid decision makers in developing evidence-based pro-poor HPAI control measures at national and international levels. These control measures should not only be cost-effective and efficient in reducing disease risk, but also enhance livelihoods, particularly of smallholder producers in developing countries.

Information generated through the project is expected to assist decision makers in both the short-run when HPAI is acute, and the long-run when it is endemic.

The expected Outputs are:

• Increased awareness of the contribution of poultry to rural livelihoods and of the social impacts of alternative disease control strategies;
• Better understanding of the risks and consequences of HPAI for different regions and stakeholders;
• Effective and socially equitable control measures and implementation strategies for HPAI control, which are appropriate for different sectors, and household and producer types;
• Capacity building for formulation, interpretation, communication, and negotiation of evidence-based and socially sensitive HPAI control policies.

The project has been formulated by integrating two complementary project proposals into a coherent and harmonized approach with significant value added beyond the simple sum of individual research outputs. Nine closely interrelated modules have been developed to cover the following areas:

• Description of poultry production systems, current disease situation and baseline information relevant to all modules;
• Risk assessment associated with different spread mechanisms;
• Economic impacts of HPAI;
• Implications of HPAI on livelihoods, intra-household dynamics, and household food security;
• Impact of institutions on HPAI risk;
• Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses of HPAI risk reduction strategies;
• Management of institutions for HPAI risk reduction;
• Risk communication and development of decision support tools;
• Short-term capacity building through targeted training workshops.

The below pert diagram illustrates how the modules are linked together.