loading...

The training workshop for the 15 ECOWAS member States plus Chad and Mauritania on the use of the Harmonized Phytosanitary Inspection and Decision-Making Guide" in N’Djamena, Chad for phytosanitary inspectors of Mali, Chad and Mauritania was concluded.

This is an effort of USDA-FAS complemented by USAID West Africa Office dedicated to support West Africa NPPOs Taskforce to disseminate the harmonized Guide in order to promote best practices in the conduct of plant quarantine operations in the sub-region. This training was conducted in N’Djamena, Chad from 6-9 February, 2023, briging the total number of trained phytosanitary inspectors to 335 for the entire region.

The aims and objectives of the training was :

·        To train in the countries, plant quarantine inspectors on a better understanding for further use of the Guide

·        Simulation exercises with practical demonstrations of phytosanitary inspection including pest detection and identification at the laboratory

·        To test the applicability of the Guide.

Key sessions of the training are :

1.    The presentations and discussions on the provisions of the Guide related to phytosanitary inspection procedures for Import & Export

2.    The Presentation of ISPM : 05, 07, 11, 12, 23, 31 & 32

3.    Exercises and practical demonstrations of Inspection, sampling, pest detection and identification and Decision-making.

4.    Field visit one of the land border between Chad and Cameroon

The measurable outcomes developing the phytosanitary and decision-making guide as well as the pilot trainings of national phytosanitary inspectors have achieved these results:

·        A game changer training

·        1 technical document available, edited and disseminated

·        1 training procedure available

·        15 training sessions conducted at national level in all 17 member States of the ECOWAS plus Chad plus Mauritania

·        335 inspectors (pilot ToT) trained and capacitated with inspection kit

·        1 regional platform of inspectors established for real-time exchanges, experience sharing

·        Notification/rejection at export reduced (mango in particular)

·        Time of transit reduced (e.g., fluidity mechanism in West Africa & Sahel) to 45 min. (intra-regional trade)

·        Joint collaboration and inspection improved at the borders

·        Communication among phytosanitary inspectors at national level improved

·        National resource mobilization increased (Cabo Verde, Mali, Guinea conducted step down trainings)