The three objectives, known as the Sixth Strategic Plan, last from 2016 to 2020 and have been set by Éloit to reflect the “changes of our times and societal expectations”.
The three goals fall under the OIE’s already-established commitments to improve veterinary governance, promote a sustainable economic development of livestock farming and create a better future for the world’s rural and undernourished populations.
Global challenges
“More than ever before, the OIE’s missions are making a crucial contribution to the social and economic development of populations and to protecting the health of living creatures and the environment,” said Éloit.
“The OIE’s Sixth Strategic Plan will be implemented in order to maintain our organisation’s commitment to supporting improvement of the quality of the veterinary services, the cornerstone of efficient global sanitary governance, which is crucial if we are to meet the future challenges facing our planet.”
The Sixth Strategic Plan was unanimously adopted the World Assembly of Delegates for the OIE on 29 May 2015. Now, the implementation of the three goals, with respective objectives falling under each strategic objective, will guide the OIE’s overall strategy over the next five years.
OIE ‘more attractive’
The three keys goals to be achieved by 2016 are: improving animal health and welfare by appropriate risk management; reinforcing trust through transparency and communication; and ensuring the capacity of veterinary services and the sustainability of their activities.
Some of the strategic objectives falling under the main goals will see the OIE make epidemiological and cartographic analyses widely available, adapt the way the body recruits animal health experts across 180 countries, as well as contribute to global debate on ways to improve sanitary governance.
Other big changes will see the OIE redesign its website to make it look “more attractive”, bolster the quality of regional veterinary services and improve transparency and accountability among its members.
The new standards will not overshadow the core missions of the OIE, which include developing sanitary standards, governing the movement of animals and animal products in addition to the dissemination of animal disease information.
A progress report on the Sixth Strategic Plan is expected to be presented at the OIE’s next general session of the Assembly in May 2016.