Networks

Rabies elimination requires strong One Health networks from the human and animal health sectors at all levels, from the global to the local. GARC works to set up, coordinate and support such networks at the global and regional levels, bringing stakeholders together to collaborate, acquire new tools, and share experiences. In-country capacity building further strengthens rabies elimination efforts. 

  • Partners for Rabies Prevention

    GARC coordinates the Partners for Rabies Prevention (PRP), a group consisting of the major international rabies prevention stakeholders,   including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the WHO rabies collaborating centres, research scientists, the UBS Optimus Foundation, animal welfare NGOs and representatives from industry.

    The PRP provides technical and strategic support to help countries towards rabies elimination. Much of the available data on the scale and costs of the rabies problem, and also the evidence that rabies control is feasible has been based on academic research projects linked to GARC’s PRP group. PRP members are also important collaborators on the End Rabies Now campaign, and help to bring World Rabies Day to their networks.

    The PRP group has completed research on the reassessment of the global burden of canine rabies, a worldwide survey on human rabies surveillance and economic evaluations of rabies control programs. It also launched and updates the Blueprint for Canine Rabies Prevention and Control with  tools and guidance to support surveillance activities and a Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination (SARE), which guides countries towards their rabies elimination goals. 

    Information on Meetings of the Partners for Rabies Prevention can be accessed here.

    PRP collaborative projects:

    Canine Rabies Blueprint 

    Fox Rabies Blueprint 

    Rabies Surveillance Blueprint 

    Reassessment of the Global Burden of Canine Rabies

    Global Survey of Surveillance for Human Rabies

    Economic Assessments of Rabies Control Projects

  • Regional networks

    Strong rabies control networks in the regions of the world most affected by endemic dog rabies are essential to support national control programmes. GARC is involved in all the major regional rabies networks, providing coordination, tools or other forms of support. It presents its strategy and resources to support rabies elimination efforts and conducts workshops to help these networks use tools such as the SARE, REC and the Rabies Blueprint.

    Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON)

    The Pan-African Rabies Control Network (PARACON) was established by GARC in 2014, merging existing networks and uniting scientific expertise with planning and practical support to help countries to progress towards elimination.

    PARACON, with the support of industry, animal welfare NGOs and the tripartite (WHO, OIE and FAO), creates the capacity to assist governments and other decision-makers to commit to improved rabies control and elimination programs within their country and region. It is structured for the progressive application of tools such as the Rabies Blueprint, its Stepwise Approach towards Rabies Elimination and the courses on the GARC Education Platform. It also provides a platform for the progress of initiatives such as the Rabies Vaccine Banks (OIE, WHO) and Country Support Packages to catalyze rabies control activities.

    PARACON merged the Southern and Eastern African Rabies Group (SEARG) and the Northern and Western Africa focused African Rabies Expert Bureau (AfroREB), and also includes African countries that have not formerly belonged to either SEARG or AfroREB.  

    Learn more about PARACON's work here

    Asian Rabies Control Network (ARACON)

    The Asian Rabies Control Network (ARACON) was established by GARC in 2018. It has been modelled on PARACON and provides similar services to Asian countries to help them to improve rabies control and elimination programs. GARC is part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) action plan towards its goal of rabies elimination from the region by 2020. 

    Learn more about ARACON's work here

    Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa Rabies Control Network (MERACON)

    The Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa Rabies Control Network (MERACON) was established by GARC in 2018, with support from Fondation Merieux. It has also been modelled on PARACON, and will build on the substantial efforts of the MEEREB network over the last few years and continue to develop collaboration and support capacity building at the country and regional level.

    Learn more about MERACON's work here

    American networks

    GARC collaborates with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) to support their efforts to eliminate rabies in the Americas, with joint projects on World Rabies Day, health economic analyses, and participation in the Meetings of Rabies Program Directors of the Americas (REDIPRA). GARC also participates each year in the Rabies in the Americas (RITA) conferences to update participants on activities that are of relevance to the Americas.

  • Country support

    GARC provides capacity building support to many countries under the banner of the regional networks. In the Philippines and Indonesia, GARC worked with the local and national government to set up comprehensive model rabies elimination programmes, incorporate rabies prevention into the education curriculum, increase awareness across the country and improve surveillance measures.

    Learn more about our work supporting the Philippines' national government

    Learn more about our work in Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

    Learn more about our work in Sorsogon, Philippines.

    Learn more about our work in Nias, Indonesia.