This May 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and East African Community (EAC) invites members of the National Plant Protection Organizations in the regions to the relaunch of the Plant Health Online Modules.
Plant health is crucial for advancing food safety systems, guaranteeing food security, and boosting revenues, all of which are necessary for a nation to have access to global markets.
The regions hosted a similar training cohort in 2022. The participant survey findings revealed that nearly all respondents (96.7%) indicated the modules had assisted them in making risk-based inspection decisions. This implies that inspectors are able to focus on the risk areas thereby reducing time spent on inspection and yet be effective.
This May 2023, we are urging all participants to complete the Pest Surveillance Module (1). The courses will start on 17th May and end July 2024.
The arrangements made for the courses as part of this cohort include:
- After each training, participants are required to complete the evaluation form and submit your certificate.
- After each training, each trainee will participate in an online debrief session to review and discuss any lessons learnt and recommendations.
- Data support will be provided to limited nominees who should have been nominated by their NPPO heads of Department to take part in the trainings.
The online training is provided for free at www.SPSCourses.com by the Food Safety Network, a part of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Virtual discussion sessions are tentatively scheduled as follows, with separate English and French discussions. Please contact AFSI to join the cohort.
| No. | Module Name at www.SPSCourses.com | Period |
| 1 | Pest Surveillance Survillance des organismes nuisibles Virtual discussion on date tbd mid-June | 2023 June |
| 2 | Plant Pest Identification Systems Systèmes d’identification des organismes nuisibles Virtual discussion – July 26 | 2023 July |
| 3 | Inspections Inspections Virtual discussion – August 23 | 2023 August |
| 4 | The SPS Agreement Accord SPS Virtual discussion – October 4 | 2023 Sept |
| 5 | Pest Risk Assessment Evaluation du risque phytosanitaire Virtual discussion – Nov 14 | 2023 Oct |
| 6 | Pest Risk Management Gestion du risque phytosanitaire Virtual discussion – Dec 13 | 2023 Nov |
| 7 | Pest Risk Analysis Analyse du risque phytosanitaire Virtual discussion – Jan 10 | 2023 Dec |
| 8 | Pest Risk Communication Communication sur les risques phytosanitaires Virtual discussion – Feb 7 | 2024 Jan |
| 9 | Phytosanitary Certification Certification phytosanitaire Virtual discussion – March 6 | 2024 Feb |
| 10 | Phytosanitary Treatments for Agriculture Commodities Traitements phytosanitaires pour les produits agricoles Virtual discussion – April 3 | 2024 Mar |
| 11 | Pest Free Concepts Concepts du statut exempt d’organismes nuisibles Virtual discussion – May 1 | 2024 April |
| 12 | Market Access Process Processus d’accès au marché Virtual discussion – May 29 | 2024 May |
| 13 | The IPPC and the Standard Setting Process La CIPV et au processus de normalisation Virtual discussion – June 26 | 2024 June |
| 14 | SPS Course Review Révision du cours SPS Virtual discussion – July 24 | 2024 July |
Resources are available to help participants access the course.
Steps to Connect to Modules:
1. Go to www.spscourses.com
2. Log in using your existing account or click on “create new account” if your first time.
3. The main dashboard allows you to pick courses by language. Plant Health is available in English and French. Select your preferred language.
4. Select “Plant Health”.
5. Click on “Begin Plant Health Modules”.
6. Locate the module name that you are looking for, such as “Plant Pest Identification”
7. Click on “Begin the [name of module]”.
AFSI 