GARC’s November 2025 Featured Platform User: Algerian Organization Against Rabies (AOAR), Algeria

 

We are excited to introduce you to this month’s Featured Platform User, Algerian Organization Against Rabies (AOAR). As our first Rabies Center of Excellence in Algeria, they have been using the GARC Data Platform since 2022.

The AOAR aims to fight rabies in a humane way and to protect free-roaming dogs. From their experience, they know that they can convince communities and authorities that killing dogs is not the answer. They partnered with GARC in 2019 through the Algerian Pasteur Institute and actively use GARC’s free resources to raise awareness for rabies elimination.

 

Since 2022, using the GARC Data Platform they have made the following impact:

Animal vaccinations: 3339

Animals sterilized: 1844

 

 

 

We spoke to the founder of AOAR, Haifa Rezagui, about how they use the GARC Data Platform and the benefits they have experienced since partnering with us.

 

Please tell us a bit about your organization and the work that you do.

The AOAR is a non-profit charitable association dedicated to protecting both animals and public health through rabies prevention and animal welfare initiatives.

Our team consists of volunteer veterinarians, students, and animal lovers who work together to reduce rabies risks, prevent animal suffering, and build a safer coexistence between people and animals.

 

What are some of your recent activities or achievements?

Recently, we have strengthened our cooperation with the Veterinary Inspection of Algiers to carry out large-scale rabies vaccination campaigns. Every Friday, we organize free rabies vaccinations at our shelter for dogs. This is accompanied by educational activities for children, including the distribution of thousands of awareness booklets and flyers. We view these as essential tools that help us spread key messages about rabies prevention and animal welfare.

We have also continued our sterilization programs for both dogs and cats, helping to reduce overpopulation humanely. In addition, our organization has taken part in several television and radio programs to raise public awareness about rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership. We are also proud to have partnered with the Algerian Red Crescent and the National Observatory of Civil Society to launch a nationwide awareness campaign against rabies, promoting prevention, education, and community involvement.

In September, it was an honor to participate in the SARE Workshop organized by GARC. This workshop allowed us to share our experiences, while also strengthening our knowledge alongside other dedicated professionals.

 

How has being part of the GARC network supported your work?

Since 2022, the support from GARC has been constant and invaluable to our work. Through training sessions, the GARC Data Platform, and the educational resources available on GARC’s website, we have been able to strengthen our capacity and better organize our activities. The Data Platform itself has greatly helped us to structure our work, analyze our data, and understand the impact of our actions. It also provides a reliable reference for responding to community questions and managing bite incidents calmly and effectively. In addition to this, the Rabies Educator Certificate (REC) offered by GARC has been an excellent tool for involving more people in rabies awareness and ensuring that our team and volunteers are well-informed and confident when communicating with the public.

Overall, GARC has always been a strong and continuous source of support, guiding us at every step, helping us to grow as an organization dedicated to rabies elimination.

 

Which of the GARC Data Tools have been most beneficial to your work and why?

The Vaccination and Sterilization Tracker (VST) has been the most beneficial tool for our work. It is very easy to use and allows us to record and translate all the information we collect in the field, including the exact locations and updates over time. This tool helps us to keep accurate records of both vaccinations and sterilizations and to analyze our progress over months and years. Thanks to it, we can clearly see what has been achieved and identify the areas that still need attention.

We also truly appreciate that the platform is free and accessible, which makes it possible for organizations like ours to continue our work efficiently. The application is easy to use whether it is on PC or mobile, and without any condition from GARC.

We would like to thank GARC and its donors for providing such a valuable tool that allows us to monitor our activities, plan future interventions, and evaluate the real impact of our campaigns.

 

 

Are you working towards rabies elimination? Do you want to benefit from improving your data collection process? Do you want to be able to visualize this data to engage with potential donors in a more meaningful way? Contact us to become part of our growing network of GARC Data Platform users – click here.

 

Alternatively, if you are already actively using our GARC Data Platform, send us an email to support@rabiesalliance.org and you could be our next featured user!