The technical assistance is part of the “Inclusive and climate investments finance in the livestock sector of Uzbekistan” Project, financed with a loan of $100 million (COL) on June 28, 2001 by the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD). The project aims at promoting the sustainable and climate compliant development of the livestock sector of Uzbekistan by supporting selected investments through credit lines, guarantees, investment subsidies and Technical Assistance to stakeholders and final beneficiaries.

The project executing agency is the Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In order to reach project objectives, a Technical Assistance is provided to support access to banking services for sustainable and climate-smart investments to targeted end-beneficiaries. The TA dedicated to the stimulation of the demand for the proposed climate-smart credit lines is designed to reach a large number of beneficiary in two direction: (i) improving knowledge on livestock sector and climate change (ii) while supporting a better access to sustainable banking services. In that regard, TA should strengthen relevant professional organizations skills on climate change and sustainable investments in the livestock sector as well as capacities to provide trainings in order to rely on them to widespread the trainings to be proposed.

Technical support is provided to a range of producer’s organisations with the following objectives:

• Raise awareness of professional organisations’ staff and members on animal productions impacts, and vulnerabilities to, climate change.
• Develop these organisations’ staff and members knowledge on access to banking services, sustainable finance, financial literacy, management skills, accounting and all other relevant field related to climate-smart business planning;
• Strengthen these organisations’ abilities to provide trainings not only to their members but also to a broader interested public consisting of the whole livestock sector value-chain with a specific focus on smallholders (Dehkans, Tomorqas), Family enterprises, Sole entrepreneurs, and cooperatives;
• Ensure that this technical support will allow relevant professional organization to set-up a network of training and consulting services dedicated to giving advises to their members and the targeted public on:
  o climate-smart farming practices ;
  o climate change mitigations and adaptation in the Livestock sector ;
  o sustainable investments opportunities ;
  o access to banking services and economic/business capabilities (financial literacy, management skills, accounting, business planning, etc.)

The stimulation of the demand for the credit line proposed in the framework of this technical assistance needs to address two core technical aspects:

• The need for farmers, as well as all the professional network of the value chains, to understand and fully endorse the reality of climate change and how the livestock sector more specifically affects climate change (both negatively through greenhouse gas emissions but also positively). Depending on the considered value chain, this would be an opportunity to inform farmers about good practices and corresponding investments that could be implemented at farm level to limit their negative impacts and increase positive ones.
• The need for farmers to develop business management skills in order to build their capacities to prepare and present bankable projects. To do so, they should be supported by qualified technico-economic analysts, with in-depth knowledge of the national animal production value chains in which the farmer is willing to invest.

The project is carried out in partnership with the company Agriconsulting Europe S.A. (AESA)  and Aykan Invest LLC.

Duration: 05/2026 – 03/2028

The consulting service is part of the Livestock Value Chain Development (LVCD) Project, financed with a loan of $150 million (COL) on September 25, 2019 by the Asian Development Bank. The project executing agency is the Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the participation of the Asian Development Bank.

The primary objective of the assignment is to enhance the development of private sector veterinary practices in Uzbekistan, focusing on improvement of access to clinical veterinary services, promoting effective animal management and health issues, and ensuring the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the project is supporting the Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnologies in the Samarkand region in:

• the implementation of sustainable Continuing Education program for Veterinarians (CEV) at the Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Pedagogical and Specialized Personnel in the field of veterinary medicine and livestock (Institute) and
• in the development of Private Veterinary Practice model.

The Scope of Work for this Assignment is divided in three phases:

The achievement of mentioned objectives will result in an improved animal husbandry and health management, nutrition and feeding efficiency, as well as reproductive efficiency. The improved access to veterinary services and associated activities will increase the productivity and quality of the products, leading to increases in livestock sector incomes, improved hygiene and health, and reduced incidence of disease amongst livestock producers.

The project is carried out in partnership with the company Aykan Invest LLC.

Duration: 12/2024 – 05/2025

The World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) has reformed its training system and has created for this purpose its Global Platform for the Training of Veterinary Services. This Platform, including the Training Portal, has been implemented to manage WOAH training activities from learning needs’ assessment to evaluation, whether they are face-to-face or at a distance. Indeed, a crucial point of the reform is to significantly increase the distance learning offer at WOAH.
Thanks to this initiative, WOAH is committed to provide its Members with diversified and ‘à la carte’ training to improve the implementation of WOAH standards and thereby contribute to the sustainable improvement of global veterinary governance.

Activities to be provided:

• African swine fever: one eLearning module on African swine fever in wild boar – biosecurity management and practice, and other services.

Duration: 06/2023 – 02/2024

The objective of this assignment is to support the relevant authority in the establishment of an official, comprehensive system for the safe disposal and/or processing of ABPs in accordance with EU, national legislation and Strategy on ABPs.

The Scope of Work for this Assignment is divided in three phases:

Phase I: Site selection, Development of Feasibility Study and Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)[1] and Urban Planning;

Phase II: Detailed Design Development and Finalization of Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) together with Environmental and Social Management Plan and Feasibility Study for ABPs facility.

Phase III – Technical Assistance during bidding documents preparation and Civil Works Contract Management for ABPs Facility.

[1] Although the Feasibility Study and ESIA are envisaged during the same phase, please note for the ESIA to start the FS should be at an advanced stage, so that ESIA can assess the site, the construction impacts, the proposed processing methodology, etc.

Project is funded by the World Bank.

Duration: 07/2023 – 04/2025

Under the European Union (EU) legislation, animals of the equine species are considered food-producing animals. Under Article 158 of the Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMPs) Regulation (EU 2019/6), the Commission is obliged to present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on its assessment of the situation as regards the treatment with medicinal products of animals of the equine species and their exclusion from the food chain, including with regard to the import of animals of the equine species from third countries. The assessment is to be accompanied by any appropriate action proposed by the Commission taking into account, in particular, public health, animal welfare, the risks of fraud and the level playing field with third countries (TCs).

To facilitate the preparation of such report, OPERA  was contracted by the European Health and Digital Executive (HaDEA) on behalf of the European Commission, to study that situation. The study will use both quantitative and qualitative evidence, such as publicly available data and surveys and interviews of selected stakeholders.

Stakeholders include Competent Authorities (CAs) in charge of the authorisation and use of VMPs, of public health and animal health and welfare as well as those in charge of performing official controls in these areas. Beyond CAs, other stakeholders include veterinary professionals, equine breeders and keepers and their associations, animal health and equine and food producing industry representatives and animal welfare organisation. Stakeholder contribution is critical for the study in order to produce an accurate and thorough assessment of the current situation (see enclosed the support letter from the European Commission).

Data and opinions provided by the stakeholders will be collected by means of specific survey questionnaires for each of the different stakeholder categories, tailored on the basis of the study questions:

– Subset A: questions for CAs in the EU/EEA.

• Subset A1: questions for CA responsible for identification and registration of animals of the equine species;
• Subset A2: questions for CA responsible for movement and traceability of animals of the equine species;
• Subset A3: questions for CA responsible for import of animals of the equine species into the EU from TCs;
• Subset A4a: questions for CA responsible for meat production from animals of the equine species;
• Subset A4b: questions for CA responsible for detection of residues in meat from animals of the equine species;
• Subset A5: questions for CA responsible for meat trade from animals of the equine species;
• Subset A6: questions for CA responsible for animal welfare;
• Subset A7: questions for CA responsible for VMPs prescription and use;
• Subset A8: questions for CA responsible for VMPs authorisation.

– Subset B: questions for Veterinary profession.

– Subset C: questions for animal welfare organizations in the EU.

– Subset D: questions for representatives of the equine industry and farming communities.

– Subset E_ questions for representatives of the animal health industry.

Project is funded by EC Agency HADEA.

Duration: 07/2023 – 02/2025

The aim of the contract is to support the achievement of an increased, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth with higher employment in South Africa.

The specific objectives of the Economic Partnership Agreement Support Programme are:

• To unlock challenges related to quality infrastructure and technical capacity in agricultural value chains that are throttling exports to the European Union.
• To support increased responsiveness to opportunities under the European Union – Southern African Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement, particularly for emerging exporters of agricultural products and those with recognised geographical indications.

Technical assistance and training activities will be provided on behalf of the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) of South Africa.

Duration: 08/2021 – 09/2026

Project aims to develop a feasibility study that will support the Government of Moldova decisions with respect to the investment in a EU-compliant system of ABP management in Moldova.

The feasibility study shall analyze and propose options on the technical solution and on the operational/business model for an ABP management system. The options proposed by the study shall provide a comprehensive solution for processing all 3 categories of ABPs, either separately or combined, and cover all related substantial complementary infrastructure for collecting, transporting, storage and disposal of all 3 categories of ABPs. The feasibility study will also analyze options for private sector participation in the ABP management system and recommend the most sustainable solution to the Government.

The project is funded by the World Bank.

Duration 02/2021 – 07/2021

The aim of the project is to develop a sustainable services information system, harmonized in the context of the legal framework of the EU, for utilization by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), AFSVFA and other relevant institutions. The project purpose is to create a comprehensive Veterinary Information Management System (VIS) for AFSVFA as the national Competent Authority for Animal Health, Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, in accordance with the legal framework covering food safety, animal health, animal welfare and plant health in Montenegro.

Project is funded by the World Bank.

Duration: 11/2020 – 12/2023

The subject of the contract is providing supplies as a part of the EU support to improving Food safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary policy standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Within the scope of the contract, Food safety information system (FSIS) – software will be developed and implemented supporting the National Food Safety Agency in collecting and analysing data, food monitoring and food born outbreaks reporting and data exchange with the EU. Overall software system is in compliance with relevant European Union regulations and directives.

The objective of this assignment is to support the AFSVFA in the establishment of an official, comprehensive system for the safe disposal and/or processing of ABPs in accordance with EU and national legislation and National Plan for management of ABPs.

Purpose of the project is to prepare the detailed and comprehensive Business plan that will cover all activities related exclusively to the conceptual design of the ABPs facility and collections system, equipment and financial/administrative/operational modalities of the ABPs facility.

Project is funded by the World Bank.

Duration: 02/2020 – 05/2021