Tunisia Strengthens Animal Health Surveillance with FAO’s EMA‑i+ Mobile Application
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries is currently working, in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to integrate the Event Mobile Application (EMA‑i+) into the national epidemiological surveillance system. This digital tool enables veterinary services and field agents to report animal diseases in real time.
Why EMA‑i+ Matters
Developed by the FAO to address growing challenges in the prevention, early detection, and management of animal and zoonotic diseases, EMA‑i+ provides:
- Rapid, accurate disease signaling – improves the speed and reliability of alerts.
- Swift intervention – helps limit economic losses and public‑health risks.
According to the FAO, the goal is to modernize Tunisia’s national epidemiological surveillance, boost the resilience of the Tunisian veterinary sector, and enhance the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond effectively to emerging health threats.
Alignment with the Pandemic Fund Project
This initiative is part of the Pandemic Fund “Supporting Tunisia in Implementing Prevention, Preparedness, and Response to Pandemics” (PPR), which follows a One Health approach. The project is jointly implemented by:
- FAO
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- World Bank
It is coordinated closely with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries.
Training of Trainers (ToT) – 10‑13 February 2026
A Training‑of‑Trainers session was held from 10 to 13 February 2026 to introduce:
- The EMA‑i+ mobile application.
- The national EMPRES‑i+ platform – a secure FAO‑developed system that allows Tunisia to manage, store, and analyse epidemiological data, monitor disease outbreaks, and improve disease control through multi‑source information.
Objectives of the ToT:
- Present the tools and their functionalities.
- Strengthen participants’ operational skills.
- Define roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders to create a clear, structured health‑information flow.
- Test the preliminary version of EMA‑i+ under practical conditions.
Building on the October 2025 Scoping Mission
The ToT builds on a scoping mission conducted in October 2025, which laid the groundwork for capacity‑building:
- Raised awareness among stakeholders about EMA‑i+ benefits and usage.
- Identified the policy and data‑governance framework needed for deployment.
- Assessed added value and feasibility in Tunisia.
- Drafted a roadmap for sustainable integration of the tool into the national health‑information system.
Follow‑up Intensive Trainings – 16‑17 February 2026
After the ToT, two intensive workshops on EMA‑i+ were organized on 16 and 17 February 2026 in Sousse. They targeted:
- All regional veterinary services in the four pilot zones (CRDA and CPA).
- Private‑sector veterinarians.
- National laboratories, including:
- Institute of Veterinary Research of Tunisia (IRVT)
- National School of Veterinary Medicine (ENMV)
- National Zoosanitary Surveillance Commission (CNVZ)
Participants came from the pilot regions of Nabeul, Kairouan, Kasserine, and Gabès. The sessions were led by FAO experts together with already‑trained veterinary representatives, ensuring a gradual, nationwide diffusion of skills, fostering sustainable ownership of the tool, and guaranteeing its long‑term viability.
This article highlights Tunisia’s proactive steps toward a modern, One‑Health‑oriented animal disease surveillance system, leveraging cutting‑edge digital tools and international collaboration.
