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Regional Train-the-Trainer Workshop for Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) Phase 3


Agriculture contributes up to 30 percent of total economic value and provide livelihoods for more than 80 percent of the population. Yet, plant pests and diseases continue to take a heavy toll, destroying about 30-60 percent of crops annually, threatening food security, livelihoods and international trade.

Across the continent, countries are rising to meet this challenge by strengthening their national phytosanitary systems to protect plant health, agriculture, trade and the environment. One of these key initiatives is the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), coordinated by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretriat.

APP also fosters regional cooperation and peer learning, bringing countries together to share experiences, strengthen coordination and build a stronger collective defense against plant pests.

What: Train-the-trainer workshop to launch APP Phase 3. The workshop will be hosted by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority, which is also Ethiopia’s national plant protection organization (NPPO).

When: 7-10 July 2026

Where: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Why: Building on the pilot and second phase, with 20 participating countries, the workshop will introduce plant health officers from an additional 18 African countries to the programme and support their implementation of better surveillance.

APP supports African countries to enhance effective pest surveillance, early detection, accurate diagnostics and timely response tthrough specialized training of phytosanitary personnel, harmonized survey protocols and cutting-edge digital tools with advanced data collection and analysis applications.

APP is helping to accelerate the shift from paper-based systems to digital field data collection. With more reliable, geo-referenced data and accurate pest information, countries can secure better foreign market access for agricultural products, improve compliance with international standards, and boost rapid pest detection, effective, coordinated response and recovery from high-risk plant pests.

Who should attend: Phytosanitary personnel (surveillance inspectors + national GIS experts) nominated by their respective national plant protection organizations of countries participating in APP Phase 3: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Libya, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Togo and observers from Yemen.

Other participants will include FAO plant health officers, representatives of selected APP countries of phase 1 and 2; representatives of Africa’s regional plant protection organizations (AU-IAPSC and NEPPO); representatives of APP Working Groups and IPPC Secretariat staff.

Learning by doing: A field visit to a commercial farm in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region will enable participants to use APP digital tools for real time phytosanitary data collection, while gaining hands-on experience in pest surveillance, inspection, and data management to support national implementation and cascade training.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

  1. Use harmonized survey protocols and diagnostic principles to correctly identify and analyze plant pests such as Bactrocera spp., Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Red palm weevil) and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense TR4, which countries in Phase 3 outlined as high-priority risks.

  2. Use APP mobile applications and the APP GIS Hub for field data collection, management, visualization, and reporting.

  3. Design, plan and deliver national training workshops tailored to country priorities, using APP ToT methodologies to transfer knowledge and APP digital tools and applications to strengthen national pest surveillance and reporting capacity.

  4. Develop National Action Plans with budgets, implementation timelines, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

  5. Practice field operations (trap setting, scouting, identification, sampling, biosecurity) and translate results into maps and dashboards to support action.

Language: The workshop will be conducted in English, and interpretation will be provided in Arabic and French.

Collaborators and partners:

  1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE)

  2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Africa (RAF)

  3. Ethiopian Agricultural Authority (EAA)

  4. African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC)

  5. Near East and North Africa Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO)

  6. European Commission

  7. Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Attending the workshop: The IPPC Secretariat will provide logistical and travel support for all national participants nominated by their countries and invited participants, based on IPPC Funding Criteria.

For more information, please contact: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Speakers:

His Excellency Addisu Arega Kitessa
Minister for Agriculture, Ethiopia
H.E. Addisu Arega Kitessa is a senior politician with past leadership roles at both federal and regional levels in Ethiopia. His experience includes coordinating rural development programmes, working in the Government Communications Affairs Office, and serving as Coordinator of the Oromia Regional State Rural Cluster.

Saliou Niassy
Coordinator, African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC)
Saliou is a plant health scientist and entomologist with extensive experience in agricultural research, pest management, and phytosanitary systems in Africa. At AU IAPSC, he leads efforts to strengthen plant health regulations, phytosanitary capacity, and safe trade across the continent. His work focuses on integrated pest and plant health management, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Before joining the African Union, he held leadership roles in research and technology transfer at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and has contributed to over 200 scientific publications on topics including integrated pest management, climate change impacts on agriculture, and sustainable crop protection.

Mohamed Habib Ben Jamâa
Executive Director of the Near East and North Africa Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO)
Ben Jamâa has more than 30 years of experience in plant protection and has been heading the NEPPO since 2023. Prior to that, he led the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Tunisia (DGSVCIA) for six years. He is a full Professor and researcher in plant protection (Entomology) at the National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF).

Enrico Perotti
Secretary, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
Enrico is an internationally recognized leader in plant health, biosecurity and agricultural policy, with over 30 years of experience spanning government, academia, and the private sector. At the IPPC Secretariat, he leads efforts to protect plant resources, facilitate safe trade, strengthen international cooperation and integrate scientific innovation, digital tools and capacity development to enhance global phytosanitary frameworks. Enrico has held senior roles, including leadership of the biosecurity risk assessment team at New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and key positions within the Australian Public Service focused on biosecurity policy and emergency response. He also helped advance Australia’s trade and market access as Australia’s first Agriculture Counsellor to Malaysia and Brunei.

Elma Carstens
Phytosanitary and Biosecurity Specialist at Citrus Research International
Elma has expertise in plant pathology and extensive experience in enabling the safe trade of agricultural products through regulatory compliance. She plays a key role in translating scientific research into practical phytosanitary and biosecurity measures that support market access and plant health. Elma holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from Stellenbosch University.

Avetik Nersisyan
Standard Setting Unit Leader and APP Coordinator, IPPC Secretariat
An agronomist with about three decades of experience, Avetik coordinates standard-setting activities of the IPPC Standards Committee, technical panels and expert working groups. As the Unit Leader, he provides substantial input to preparations for sessions of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the Strategic Planning Group, the CPM Bureau, and other ad hoc meetings. Before joining the IPPC, he managed the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Strategic Programme Two (SP2) in the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. SP2 focuses on making agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable. Previously, he was also alternative FAO Representative for Moldova, FAO Technical Officer for Plant Production and Protection in the region and Assistant FAO Representative in Armenia.

Descartes Koumba Mouendou
Standard Setting Officer and Deputy Lead, Standards Setting Unit (SSU), IPPC Secretariat
Descartes supports the development of international phytosanitary standards by providing technical and organizational guidance to the Standards Committee (SC) and coordinating the SC 7. He also coordinates support to key IPPC technical bodies, including the Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments, the Technical Panel on the Glossary and the Expert Working Group (EWG) responsible for revising ISPM 12 – Phytosanitary Certificates (2023 020). Descartes also supports the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Focus Group on Sea Containers, provides technical assistance to the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), and coordinates the IPPC Regional Workshop for Africa. Before joining the Standards Setting Unit, he spent six years in the Implementation and Facilitation Unit (IFU), where he coordinated the Implementation and Capacity Development Committee (IC), managed IPPC Observatory surveys and supported dispute avoidance, implementation materials and cross unit collaboration. He previously worked with the Ministry of Agriculture of Gabon and the FAO Subregional Office for Central Africa. Descartes has a Master’s in Environmental Management and an Engineer’s degree in Plant Protection and Production. He speaks English and French fluently.

Heba Kassab
Market Access Unit Supervisor, Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), NPPO of Egypt
Heba holds a Bachelor of Agriculture in International Agriculture from Cairo University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Master of Professional Plant Quarantine. She is a distinguished phytosanitary expert and a member of the IPPC's Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) Focus Group on Plant Health in the Context of One Health, where she actively collaborates with national plant protection organisations (NPPOs) to promote sustainable plant health and robust trade facilitation frameworks. With over 20 years of experience in agricultural trade and international quarantine regulations, she specializes in bilateral trade negotiations, electronic phytosanitary certification and pest risk assessments. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed global trade files for major global markets such as the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, audited export facilities and aligned plant health standards to facilitate safe, compliant international trade. She has managed critical trade files. Her expertise includes conducting Pest Risk Assessments (PRA), implementing WTO-SPS agreements, auditing export-certified packing houses and driving digital transformation through electronic phytosanitary certification systems (such as TRACES). She has trained over 150 plant quarantine inspectors to improve regulatory compliance and modern certification standards.

Adama Malle
Head of the Surveillance, Alert and Intervention Division, National Plant Protection Office (NPPO), Mali
Adama is an Agricultural and Rural Engineering professional with 20 years of experience in plant protection, integrated pest management, early warning systems, and coordination of plant protection interventions. He is also the digital focal point for the African Phytosanitary Programme (APP) in Mali and an APP master trainer. Ingénieur de l’Agriculture et du Génie Rural, spécialiste en protection des végétaux avec 20 ans d’expérience. Actuellement chef de Division Surveillance, Alerte et Intervention à l’ONPV du Mali, Point focal numérique du Programme Phytosanitaire Africain (PPA) au Mali, Expert en gestions intégrée des bioagresseurs, systèmes d’alerte précoce et coordination des interventions phytosanitaires. Bénéficiaire de 3 formations des formateurs du programme phytosanitaire africain (PPA).

Joab Tugume Katarimpika
Senior Agricultural Inspector and Head, Plant Quarantine Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
Joab is an agricultural professional with over 15 years of experience working in the agricultural sector, particularly in the phytosanitary space. At the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, he heads the unit that coordinates national pest surveillance, pest risk analysis and plant import regulation. He has a PhD in Agriculture (Plant Pathology) and a Master of Science in Crop Science (Crop Protection) and is finalizing a Master of Business Administration. Joab is a Member of the East African Community (EAC)'s Technical Working Group on Pest Risk Analysis and is the APP focal point for Uganda.

Yolanda Mthembu
Scientist, Department of Agriculture (National plant protection organization of South Africa)
Yolanda is a SACNASP-registered Professional Natural Scientist with over 19 years of experience in biosecurity and plant health. At the Department of Agriculture, she leads the management of national plant pest surveillance networks and the development of early warning systems for invasive agricultural pests. Yolanda is a specialist in risk assessment and plant pest surveillance, with a particular focus on integrating technological innovations into biosecurity. She is adept at leveraging ArcGIS and ArcView software to manage surveillance data and plan risk-based sites, ensuring data-driven precision in detecting invasive agricultural pests. She has a Bachelor of Science in Plant Pathology and Microbiology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and advanced training in Pest Risk Analysis from the National Institute of Plant Health Management in India.

Stefano Preti
Phytosanitary Standard Setting Specialist, IPPC Secretariat
Stefano supports activities of the Africa Phytosanitary Programme and the work of IPPC Technical Panels and Expert Working Groups. He is a plant health specialist with an MSc in International Horticultural Science and experience across regional, national, and European institutions. Stefano previously worked as a Plant Health Inspector for the Italian National Plant Protection Organization, where he was responsible for implementing regional plant health management activities.

Mohamed El Hady Sidatt
Plant Production and Protection Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sub-regional Office for North Africa
Sidatt leads plant production and protection activities to support crop production and control of plant pests and diseases. He has previously worked as an agricultural officer at the FAO-based Rotterdam Convention secretariat, where he trained national authorities in several Arab and African countries on implementing the Rotterdam Convention. He also supported programmes for monitoring and evaluating the effects of pesticides on human health and the environment.

Alessandra Falcucci
GIS Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Alessandra works in geospatial analysis and environmental modelling, applying GIS tools to support data-driven projects. At FAO, she contributed to the spatial component of the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model and to early warning models for Rift Valley fever and avian influenza. She provides training in QGIS and has been a tutor for the Master in Conservation Biology at Sapienza University of Rome. Alessandra has a PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho (USA), focusing on habitat suitability modelling for wolves and bears in the Alpine and Apennine ranges. She has authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications and earned certificates in GIS and statistics during her PhD.

Samira Faris

Georg Goergen
Head, Biodiversity Centre and Biological Control Centre for Africa, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Georg has broad expertise in integrated pest management, habitat management, biosystematics, insect biodiversity, and biological control of major agricultural pests in tropical Africa. Over many years, he has provided taxonomic and biosystematics support to IITA and its national and international partners, helping to strengthen institutional capacity for the identification and study of arthropods of agricultural importance. He has also played a significant role in developing one of the largest insect reference collections in West Africa. As a research entomologist, Georg has extensive knowledge of the entomofauna of tropical Africa and was the first to detect several invasive insect species newly introduced to sub-Saharan Africa. He collaborates widely with entomologists, taxonomists, and biological control specialists from international research centers, including WorldVeg, icipe, AfricaRice, and universities worldwide. He has served as principal investigator on numerous successful biological control projects, contributing to sustainable crop protection, biodiversity conservation, and improved agricultural resilience across the region.

Peter Chinwada
Plant Production and Protection Specialist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa
Peter is an entomologist by training. His 30+ years of experience in agriculture, plant sciences and the academia underpin his strong technical expertise and evidence-based approach to problem-solving. Over the years, he has contributed to various agricultural and pest management programmes, providing technical guidance, supporting policy implementation, and strengthening the capacity of farmers and institutions in integrated plant production and pest management. Working within the FAO framework, he plays a key role in initiatives that enhance pest and disease surveillance, regional food security and build resilience in smallholder farming systems. Peter has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on plant, animal and human health.

Anita Tibasaaga
Communication Specialist, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat
Anita is a communications professional supporting the planning and implementation of strategic communication initiatives at the IPPC Secretariat. She coordinates communication support for the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) and the Standard Setting Unit, develops content for the IPPC website, social media and other communication products. Before joining the IPPC Secretariat, she worked in the communications unit of FAO Uganda, where she coordinated content development, social media management, media relations, event planning and outreach. Her previous work also spans communication and public affairs in public health, field epidemiology, agricultural research and biotechnology fields. Anita has a master’s degree in International Relations from Middlesex University, London and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, Uganda.