The OIE provides comprehensive training courses on the OIE Tool for the Evaluation of Performance of Veterinary Services (OIE PVS Tool) tool to ensure harmonisation in its application during evaluations of OIE Member Veterinary Services (VS).
Participants in the courses include: international veterinary experts, Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) and representatives from OIE Members, OIE Central Bureau and Regional staff, and invitees from other international organizations.
Selection of experts to take the training is based on experience, language skills (covering the three official languages of the OIE, and Russian), a sound experience in VS and familiarity with issues facing VS particularly in developing countries and an effort to achieve geographic balance. From those experts who have completed the training so far, about 100 OIE officially certified assessors are available to conduct evaluations using the OIE PVS Tool.
OIE Regional and Sub-regional Representatives and Central Bureau staff who have completed the PVS training will be qualified to participate in evaluations as observers or facilitators, based on familiarity with the OIE PVS Tool, knowledge of VS and the cultural, social and economic factors that are important in each region.
Other participants have taken the training only to gain familiarity with the form and function of the OIE PVS Tool as it will be applied in conducting evaluations of VS.
Participants in the PVS training receive extensive training materials that include reference material, templates and communication aids that can be used to carry out an evaluation. The OIE has committed to provide updated PVS materials and templates to certified experts to ensure that they remain current with the OIE PVS Tool. The OIE is currently refining an Internet-based tool for use by certified assessors to facilitate preparation and analysis of evaluation reports.
The PVS courses support OIE's objective of achieving improvement of animal health governance in Members. There is a strong demand for evaluations by Members. Utilizing OIE certified assessors will support Members in developing investment programmes for submission to the World Bank and other donor agencies.
Four training courses have already been carried out at the OIE Headquarters with the OIE Collaborating Centre in Lyons, in May and July 2006, in February 2007 and in February 2008. See related information at:
05/04/07 - Press Release: PVS Training held February 5-9, 2007
12/03/07 - Editorial: Protecting the world from emerging diseases linked to globalisation
30/1/07 - The tool for the improvement of the governance of veterinary services presented to OIE's Member Countries Delegates in the Middle East
12/5/06 - The OIE sets up a new global mechanism to develop the effectiveness of the National Veterinary Services