Improving animal health and welfare is the mandate of the OIE, and not only helps to control diseases that affect terrestrial and aquatic animals, but also reduces risks to human health by guaranteeing a stable income and improving the quality of life for countless rural populations. Moreover, it protects trade in animals and animal products and safeguards food security and food safety.

To achieve this, the OIE develops and updates international standards and recommendations, and establishes disease control strategies for diseases that are considered a priority because they threaten human health, the economy, and the well-being of communities.

For effective management of animal diseases and to achieve better protection for animals and humans, the dissemination of veterinary expertise and the transmission of real-time information on the current global animal health situation is essential. Communicating this information is also central to building confidence in cross-border trade in animals and animal products.

To reach these objectives and ensure transparency, communication must be rapid, contextualised and comprehensible, and the information must be transmitted using the most suitable means and channels. This is why the OIE is working to modernise its World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) and also exploring new and diverse communication tools for development and wider distribution.

High-quality animal health services are the cornerstone of efficient global-health governance, enabling us to address the current and future challenges our planet faces. Today, more than ever, animal health services make an invaluable contribution to social and economic development, and to the protection of people and the environment and, by doing so, help to achieve several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

This is why the OIE is actively supporting Member Countries to improve the quality of their national Veterinary Services and to strengthen their capacity. Several tools and programmes are available to help countries implement OIE International Standards. These actions are mainly financed by the OIE World Animal Health and Welfare Fund.

As the scientific and technical work at the heart of the OIE’s mission continues to advance, the functioning of the Organisation and its governing bodies must also evolve so that internal procedures and administrative and financial performance continually improve, and it responds to the demands and expectations of Member Countries and to the partners and donors which support its programmes.

To meet this need, the OIE has revised certain internal procedures and is continually strengthening its network. It strives to ensure transparency in both its activities and the use of funding. This contributes to the smooth implementation of the 6th Strategic Plan, which covers the period from 2016 to 2020 and is based on three key themes developed throughout this document: controlling animal health risks, ensuring transparency in communication and strengthening the resilience of animal health systems.