On February 24, 2026, in Brazzaville, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), represented by its Country Director, Richard Malonga, and the General Directorate of Livestock (DGE), represented by its Director General, Dr. N’Kaya-Tobi, signed a Technical Collaboration Agreement.
Concluded for a period of five (5) years, this agreement formalizes a framework for collaboration in two specific areas: the surveillance of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in the veterinary sector, and aspects related to the sanitary safety of food products derived from wildlife.
At the interface between wildlife, domestic animals, and human populations, health risks require close coordination and regular information sharing. The signed protocol specifically aims to establish this exchange mechanism in order to prevent certain diseases that may affect both humans and domestic animals.
Within this framework, the two institutions commit to maintaining open and regular communication on all matters related to animal health. They will work jointly to develop a communication protocol enabling effective interventions in the event of epizootic outbreaks affecting wildlife or domestic animals. They also intend to strengthen their operational and scientific capacities through reciprocal technical and scientific training opportunities.
The collaboration further provides for the promotion and development of livestock farming in order to help reduce local communities’ dependence on wild meat.
Subject to the availability of the necessary resources, WCS will mobilize its professional network as well as its community-based surveillance system for unusual wildlife events—particularly cases of morbidity or suspected mortality—to collect biological samples for diagnostic purposes. WCS will also use the network of the Private Community-Based Veterinary Service (SVPP) model as an alert mechanism in cases of suspected mortality among domestic animals, and will work with the DGE to integrate wildlife health surveillance data into the national animal health surveillance system.
For its part, the DGE will provide general support to activities related to wildlife health surveillance as well as awareness campaigns on wildlife-related zoonoses. It will facilitate the administrative and logistical procedures necessary for the implementation of activities of common interest and may, when needed, support the process of obtaining the permits required for the export or transfer of biological material, in strict compliance with applicable regulations.
The protocol also defines the modalities of collaboration in the areas of training, joint research, and scientific publications. It specifies that both institutions act as independent partners engaged in an exclusively technical partnership and sets out provisions relating to data confidentiality and intellectual property rights over the results produced.
Through the signing of this agreement, WCS and the DGE consolidate a structured framework for cooperation aimed at improving coordination in animal health surveillance and the prevention of animal and zoonotic diseases in the Republic of Congo.