United States Department of State
Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP)
Key Programs Include:
One Health focused projects
Supporting the development of the Zoonotic Disease Unit from inception to implementation (inclusive of strategic planning; developing integrated disease guidelines and contingency plans for brucellosis, Rift Valley Fever, Anthrax and Rabies; community level programming in Marsabit county, and support of establishing county level One Health units after the devolution of the Kenya government.
Development of a 5-year Strategic Plan for the Somalia One Health Technical Working Group (OHTWG); zoonotic disease prioritization, support of inclusion of One Health in the new FETP curriculum; OH communication plan, integrated disease guidelines and contingency plans for brucellosis and Rift Valley Fever.
GIS, in consortium with Gryphon Scientific and Human Link recently supported a two part workshop: “Enhancing Transboundary Outbreak Detection and Response in Kenya and Somalia” with border officers from both countries.
GIS supported the development of a draft One Health Strategic Plan and OH communication plan for diverse stakeholders on transboundary priority dangerous pathogens and zoonotic diseases.
Support for 5-year One Health strategic plan, disease specific planning, One Health communication plan, support for inclusion of One Health materials at the pre-service level and several virtual conferences focused on One Health, using local experts as keynote speakers
Past One Health programming in Egypt, Ukraine, Tanzania and Uganda
Biosecurity Legislation Development
Previously, GIS has supported biosecurity legislation development in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. GIS currently has funding to support the initial stages of this development in Gabon, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). GIS helps map and analyze the existing legislative and regulatory frameworks related to biosecurity and biological threat reduction more broadly, through a One Health lens and work with relevant leaders and decision makers through a virtual meetings and workshops to develop prioritized action plans to address key identified gaps. Strong whole-of-government biosecurity systems are a critical capacity for supporting biological threat reduction efforts.