Strategy

Since 1990, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has adopted a strategic planning cycle for its five-year work program. WOAH’s Seventh Strategic Plan, adopted by the Member Countries who met during the 88th General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, covers the period from 2021 to 2025. The plan leverages the organisation’s experience and expertise, with the support of its network of Reference Centres, to foster the necessary changes and provide leadership in global animal health governance so that Veterinary Services are better equipped to anticipate and respond to new expectations.

Our ambition for 2025

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is the global authority on animal health,

working across borders to improve animal health and welfare and to assist national Veterinary Services.

We do this by setting International Standards to support the safe trade of animals and animal products and improve the prevention and control of animal diseases. Additionally, we collate data to improve our knowledge of animal health situations worldwide.

Improving the sustainability of animal production is still one of the major objectives of WOAH.

Insufficient access to food, zoonoses and food-borne diseases still impact millions of people worldwide. With 18% of the world’s population engaged in animal husbandry or in the processing and marketing of animal-based foods, these people’s livelihoods and socio-economic status depend on the health of animals.

There have been global developments on climate change, food consumption patterns and animal welfare along with increasing expectations for more environmentally friendly animal production. These must be considered along with advances in science and technology and the need for increased cooperation to set out new targets.

Consequently:

WOAH must exercise its voice in global discussions on these issues, within frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, as these affect the socioeconomic balance of rural families and the sustainability of animal production systems.

Veterinary Services must be better prepared to respond to challenges that require wider knowledge and skills than those covered in veterinary schools.

With the support of its network of Reference Centres, WOAH helps implement change so that animal health services are equipped to respond the new challenges and expectations.

Global vision and a framework for action

Increased transparency

in the development of international standards and the evaluation of the health status of Members

Better structured policies

and team mobilisation to implement global strategies, 

Modernised tools

to monitor the evolution of global diseases and improve the quality of shared information with the relaunch of the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS)

Increased resources to support Members

in evaluating and strengthening their capacities through our Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) programme

Strengthened and more successful partnerships  

An internal restructuring of the Organisation

 to better plan, deliver and report on our activities.

In preparing the 7th Strategic Plan, we engaged with our Members, partners and staff to define future expectations.

 Together, we have prepared this plan with the aim of contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and together, we will rise to the challenge of implementing it. 

Mission and Vision: Leadership in global health governance

WOAH’s mission is to foster global commitment to improve animal health and welfare and veterinary public health worldwide.  WOAH’s organisational culture is founded on recognising value in encouraging different perspectives and seeking opportunities to leverage diversity, while promoting fairness and inclusion, encouraging trust and instilling purpose in WOAH’s commitment to change.  

This is done by fostering scientific excellence, independence, transparency, solidarity and partnership in an environment that delivers good governance and sets an example for proficient regulatory practices.  

WOAH is committed to preserve a future where safe trade, public health, food security and sustainable socio-economic growth that support livelihoods, are improved. With this, the vision for WOAH in this Strategic Plan is to provide leadership in global animal health governance.  

Vision

Provide leadership in global animal health governance. Improve animal health care and welfare worldwide and support global goals.

Safe and fair trade

Public Health

Global food security and safety

Sustainable socioeconomic development

Mission

Promoting coordination of animal health and welfare

Fostering transparency in the animal disease situation worldwide

Support Veterinary Services to strengthen the governance of animal health systems

STANDARD SETTING

Developing international standards, guidelines and recommendations based on the best available evidence

COORDINATION OF GLOBAL FRAMEWORKS

Developing and supporting Veterinary Services in the implementation of global strategies and initiatives

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Collecting, managing, analysing and giving access to health systems-related data, including real-time information on the state of animal health worldwide

SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY BUILDING

Engaging Veterinary Services through the PVS Pathway in assessment, strategic planning and capacity development

FACILITATION OF INTERNAL COLLABORATION

Communicating with and engaging WOAH stakeholders, including global experts, on anima health welfare, and veterinary public health issues

Five strategic objectives

WOAH strives to bring positive and impactful global change. In order to strengthen its leadership in global health governance WOAH has five strategic objectives to fulfil.

Scientific Expertise

Objective: leveraging relevant scientific expertise to address multisectoral animal health and welfare issues 

How is it being achieved? By reinforcing the scientific excellence of the Organisation, improving collaboration and broadening the Organisation’s approach to animal health systems. 

Data Governance

Objective: implementing digital transformation through a WOAH Data Strategy.

How is it being achieved? By developing a Data Strategy and data governance framework to optimise data management, while improving accessibility and visibility of data for stakeholders.

Responding to Member’s Needs

Objective: drive a high level of support to WOAH Members

How is it being achieved? By monitoring the implementation of standards to ensure good and transparent regulatory practice and improve insights provided by PVS Pathway data. WOAH’s extensive network can maximise the delivery of support to members.  

Collaboration with Partners

Objective: optimising cooperation with partners to better respond to global challenges 

How is it being achieved? By developing the voice of WOAH in global policy dialogue, targeting collaboration for impact and to further promote the added value of WOAH as a partner.  

Efficiency and Agility

Objective: being recognised as an efficient and agile organisation underpinned by modern internal processes and tools

 How is it being achieved? By modernising WOAH through robust processes & tools and promote WOAH’s social and environmental responsibility 

Read the full Seventh Strategic Plan

Annual Reports of activities