The three-year PACMAN project aims to set up a biomolecular platform to facilitate the control of animal diseases and support Zimbabwe agricultural sector. The country currently faces a food security challenge, due to frequent droughts, inherently variable climate, and rapid population growth. The livestock sector in particular, is threatened by increasing prevalence of animal diseases and needs stronger veterinary systems to better control those diseases and estimate the risks linked to zoonotic diseases. The livestock sub-sector is one of the most important arms of the agricultural sector in Zimbabwe. Livestock is particularly important in Zimbabwe where It contributes to the livelihood of 70% of the country's rural poor.

For almost two decades, Zimbabwe has been facing a political and economic crisis that has had a major impact on agricultural production and livestock production in particular. The country faces a deconstruction of public technical services, but also higher education in veterinary science. All livestock production chains suffer from a lack of effective surveillance systems for the control of diseases with a high economic impact (foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, bovine theileriosis, cowdriosis, anaplasmosis, bird flu, etc.). Information on all these diseases at national level is insufficient and the public services do not have the technical capacity, nor qualified personnel to monitor and control these diseases as well as diseases that could emerge or re-emerge. There is no national laboratory for functional diagnosis in case of suspicion. Samples of sick animals are sent abroad for analysis. This results in late diagnoses and limited capacity for control of animal and zoonotic diseases.

Against this background the PACMAN project is focusing on the following main components:

• Strengthening  Zimbabwe's  biotechnology  capabilities and making them accessible to partners in the latest molecular biology and serology techniques for training, disease surveillance and control, quality control and research.
• Setting up an action, partnership, financing and sustainability mechanism for the biotechnology platform to ensure its operation and impact over the long term. The project will also set up a performance management and monitoring plan.
• CIRAD, as funding beneficiary, is partnering with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), which also has expertise in setting up and operating biotechnology platforms. CIRAD has partnered with the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Zimbabwe, and with the Department of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement.
• The project's implementation strategy will significantly improve the autonomy of Zimbabwe to detect and control diseases, which have a high economic impact, strengthening the resilience of the agricultural economy to the national economy.

The PACMAN project will complement the actions started by the CAZCOM project (Strengthening Zimbabwe's Capacity for Animal and Zoonotic Disease Control) funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs FSPI (Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects).  CAZCOM conducted 22 technical trainings (14 field and eight laboratory); supervised seven MSc students, achieved more than 640 hours of courses given; equipped one international standard biomolecular laboratory which is now operational within the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Zimbabwe.

In addition, more than 2,000 samples were analyzed, diagnostic tests developed, and two laboratory technicians were trained in biotechnology. One e-learning course on epidemiology and surveillance of animal diseases and zoonoses is under preparation and will be available for the coming years to train students and animal health staff in Zimbabwe. The implementation of the EU-funded LIPS (Livestock Production Systems Zimbabwe) project under the DeSIRA initiative (Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture) will also boost the impact and sustainability of the PACMAN project's actions.