More Inclusivity to Strengthen the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

WOAH, formerly known as the OIE, was established 100 years ago by 28 countries, concretely reflecting the realization that combating an epidemic cannot be limited to a national territory and must instead be a collective effort.

Over the years, WOAH has grown and now has 183 members, a number comparable to the WHO (194) or the FAO (195).

With such a large membership, the question of inclusivity arises. How can we ensure that all members, "small" or "large", feel involved and that their concerns are properly considered? How do we keep the organization attractive? These questions have often surfaced during the numerous videos and in-person meetings I have had with delegates from around the world.

Fostering a more inclusive organization is one of my key priorities.

What can be done to make WOAH more inclusive?

First and foremost, inclusivity implies proper representation of regions and sub-regions within the organization's various bodies. The Specialist Commissions and, in particular, the Executive Committee at the Director General level should be organized accordingly, so that positions of responsibility truly reflect the diversity of members and regions.

As part of my candidacy, I commit to making WOAH's senior leadership team a mirror of our members, with experience addressing the issues we must tackle.

Regarding the Council, the current low number of members does not allow for such adequate representation. Upcoming work on the Basic Texts will need to provide a solution to this issue.

In this context, I commit to proposing to members a revision, within a constant budget, of the Council's composition to increase the number of its members.

This question of representation should also apply to departments, commissions and working groups, which also necessitates renewing expertise so that all regions' knowledge can be valued, thus enhancing the organization's attractiveness, particularly for young professionals.

Inclusivity also means faster and more cost-effective translations of working documents, made possible today by the prudent use of artificial intelligence by our interpreters. This involves validated standards translated into multiple languages and provided for enhanced understanding and application.

More inclusivity also involves facilitating delegates' and veterinary services' work through systematized short messages alerting them to important draft standard changes or required actions.

It also means energizing the focal point network by improving training offerings for them (inperson and remote) in conjunction with regional representations, to strengthen delegates' roles and support national veterinary services.

Inclusivity should additionally be fostered through effective use of new communication and information-sharing tools. Our regions and continents are brought closer by internet links rather than air routes, by teleworking in countries of origin with regular cohesion meetings rather than permanent posts abroad. We can therefore rethink our commissions, regional teams, national staff and group working methods by incorporating competent colleagues from
diverse backgrounds.

Finally, more inclusivity means direct dialogue between elected regional commission bureau members, delegates of all members “large” and “small,” and WOAH's senior leadership - a dialogue I commit to nurturing with delegates as I have begun as a candidate. This exchange is essential to hear, understand and jointly address issues across regions and sub-regions.
WOAH's Director General must maintain close contact with delegates to support their efforts with decision-makers and establish the legitimacy of their animal health actions impacting food security, trade, the economy, public health and biodiversity.

Let us always remember that WOAH's inclusivity is inherent to its power, effectiveness and appeal!