WAAVP-AN Strengthens Continental Collaboration at the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife (ICPOW), South Africa

WAAVP-AN’s participation in the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife (ICPOW), held from 14-18 September 2025 in Skukuza, South Africa, marked an important milestone in advancing the network’s continental visibility and collaborative agenda. The congress provided a unique platform for engagement at the wildlife-livestock-human intersection, reinforcing the relevance of African-led expertise in addressing complex parasitic challenges.

Invited to host a dedicated session, WAAVP-AN showcased its progress since inception, highlighting key achievements such as the establishment of operational frameworks, identification of continental priority areas through an online survey, and the development of a dynamic website and Community of Practice. The session also emphasized the network’s growing role in supporting research and capacity-building initiatives across Africa, illustrating how coordinated efforts are translating into practical impact. The engagement concluded with a strong call to action, encouraging new members to join the network and actively contribute to shared learning and collaboration.

Beyond formal sessions, WAAVP-AN actively participated in plenary and breakout discussions focused on emerging trends in parasite epidemiology and biology, particularly within wildlife and domestic contexts. These exchanges enriched the network’s understanding of current scientific directions while creating opportunities to position African perspectives within global debates.

A key highlight of the mission was a strategic side meeting with the Parasitological Society of Southern Africa (PARSA). The dialogue laid the foundation for future collaboration, with proposed areas including joint capacity-building initiatives, expert peer review for WAAVP-AN research grants, shared webinars through the WAAVP-AN Community of Practice, and the co-organization of continental conferences. These proposed actions reflect a shared commitment to sustainable parasite management and strengthened regional expertise.

Overall, participation in ICPOW enhanced WAAVP-AN’s profile and opened concrete pathways for partnership. The way forward focuses on formalizing collaboration with PARSA and developing a clear framework to guide joint activities, reinforcing the network’s mission to promote best practices for the management of animal parasites across Africa.