CAZCOM | Working towards autonomy in animal disease surveillance in Zimbabwe

Results & impact 8 June 2021
A molecular biology laboratory of international scope, 200 technicians, engineers and researchers trained , seven students supervised during their Masters, and a new research project to amplify the action taken by CAZCOM. A few facts and figures to summarise this project dedicated to building capacities in animal disease surveillance in Zimbabwe. Watch the beneficiaries and actors involved talk about CAZCOM.
Taking a blood sample from a cow as part of the CAZCOM project in Zimbabwe © A. Jimu

Taking a blood sample from a cow as part of the CAZCOM project in Zimbabwe © A. Jimu

Key figures about CAZCOM

3 objectives: developing skills – building technical capacities in molecular biology – implementing effective, autonomous surveillance systems for animal and zoonotic diseases

2 years of project implementation

22 technical training courses provided (14 in the field and 8 in the laboratory)

1 e-learning course on the epidemiology and surveillance of animal and zoonotic diseases

7 masters students supervised in the context of the project

640 hours of lessons taught

1 technical platform for molecular biology of international calibre equipped and operational within the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Zimbabwe.
Links with national veterinary services are being strengthened and collaborations with international research institutions are underway, along with the development of partnerships with the private sector

A follow-up with the PACMAN project

CAZCOM is now supplemented and intensified by the PACMAN programme. With 2 million euros of funding from the Agence Française de Développement, this new project aims to train even more staff members in diagnostic techniques and to turn the molecular biology laboratory into a true biotechnology platform. This will help to speed up response times for health actions from several months to just a few days during epizootic events.

Training, a key element of development paths

There can be no development without an autonomous capacity for knowledge production. This belief is the basis for the decision to make training one of CIRAD’s four ambitions.
Find out more about our teaching and training activities

See also