2026-03-17 14:44:56
Hanoi, 17 March 2026 – On 17 March 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the Embassy of France in Viet Nam, and partners, organized the Kick-off Meeting of the ASEACA Project (Preventing the Emergence of Zoonotic Diseases in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean) under the PREZODE initiative launched by the Government of France.
The meeting brought together representatives from central government agencies, research institutes, universities, provincial technical departments, United Nations agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, and development partners working in the field of One Health in Viet Nam.
The ASEACA project is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and coordinated by CIRAD, aiming to strengthen research capacity and international collaboration to prevent the emergence of zoonotic diseases, through a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
Participants discussed the increasing risks of emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental changes affecting public health and agricultural systems. Strengthening research collaboration, data sharing, and cross-sectoral coordination under the One Health framework was highlighted as essential to prevent disease emergence at its source.
The PREZODE initiative, launched by the Government of France, aims to shift global efforts from “responding to pandemics” toward preventing them before they occur. In this context, ASEACA contributes by strengthening scientific collaboration, research networks, and evidence-based approaches for disease prevention.
During the meeting, representatives from Thai Nguyen and Dong Thap provinces presented local livestock production contexts, disease risks, and research priorities related to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and community-based disease surveillance.
These presentations provided important insights for defining research activities and collaboration mechanisms between research institutions, government agencies, and international partners under the ASEACA project.
Participants also discussed the outcomes of the first meeting of the Research-to-Policy (R2P) Technical Working Group, established to connect scientific research with policy-making processes.
The ASEACA project will provide direct support to this working group, facilitating knowledge exchange and enabling research findings to inform policy recommendations and practical actions in the One Health framework.
Participants acknowledged the strong support of the Government of France, CIRAD, and AFD in supporting the development and implementation of the ASEACA project in Viet Nam.
The project is expected to serve as an important foundation for future grant-funded initiatives and international cooperation projects, encouraging additional development partners and bilateral donors to support One Health initiatives in Viet Nam.
In the next phase, the ASEACA project in Viet Nam will be implemented under the coordination of CIRAD, in collaboration with national and international partners working within the One Health framework. Key partners include the National Institute of Veterinary Research, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Institute for Environmental Health and Sustainable Development, the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI), as well as relevant provincial technical agencies and stakeholders.
Participating partners expressed their commitment to strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration in research, data sharing, and field implementation at the project study sites. The project will also support stronger linkages between scientific research and policy development through the Research-to-Policy (R2P) Technical Working Group.
Research findings and lessons learned from the project will be shared within the One Health Partnership framework in Viet Nam, contributing to evidence-based policy-making, improved disease prevention capacity, and enhanced multi-sectoral collaboration.
Participants also agreed to continue technical discussions on coordination mechanisms and research implementation plans during the working session on 18 March 2026 at the National Veterinary Institute in Hanoi.
