COPE to respond to phytosanitary needs in Eastern Africa

Group photo - COPE Project Management Committee

The Centre of Phytosanitary Excellence (COPE) in Eastern Africa is being established with support from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). COPE s mission is to provide phytosanitary capacity building services to clients in the public and private sectors, so that countries are better able to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests and meet the phytosanitary requirements of international trade. COPE s primary services will include training (both short courses and university accredited courses) and pest risk analyses.

The IPPC is a member of COPE s Project Management Committee (PMC) and provides technical support services to the project through a supervisory agreement signed between FAO and the STDF. The Fifth meeting of COPE-PMC was held in Nairobi during the period 8-9 July, 2010. All members of the PMC (except NPPO Mozambique) and observers were present (Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), CABI Africa, University of Nairobi, NPPO Zambia, NPPO Uganda, NPPO Tanzania, USDA representative, Dutch Plant Protection Service, IAPSC, COMESA). Topics of discussion included the establishment of training and PRA units and achieving long-term sustainability.

COPE s launch is planned for the last week of October in Kenya (27th October) and later in Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda. For more information and the latest news on COPE, visit the Centre s website: http://www.africacope.org/.