Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Livestock Health and Value Chains Improvement Project The project will reduce trans-boundary animal diseases (TAD), food safety and zoonotic disease risks and strengthen livestock value chains and COVID-19 responses through investments in infrastructure, capacity building and policy support. The project will have the following outcome: health, value chains, and formal trade of livestock and livestock products improved. The project will be aligned with the following impact: GMS vision as a leading supplier of safe and environmentally friendly agriculture products realized.

Output 1: Livestock health and value chain infrastructure expanded and upgraded in a climate-friendly manner. The output will establish DCZs comprising feedlots, quarantine facilities, laboratories, and health inspection and vaccination facilities in priority border areas. It will address critical infrastructure gaps in livestock health systems and value chains by developing (i) breeding and waste management facilities; (ii) slaughtering, processing, and cold storage facilities; and (iii) market infrastructure, which are gender-responsive and integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. It will finance remodeling and improvement of laboratories, and zoonotic disease and AMR control facilities. Establishing DCZs is expected to leverage private sector investment in value chain facilities, such as feedlots, slaughtering, processing, packaging and cold chains, biogas digesters and bio-fertilizer factories. Priority border areas for DCZs include those between Yunnan province, the PRC and Lao PDR; Myanmar and Thailand; and borders between Cambodia and Viet Nam. DCZs will be extended to trade routes between Cambodia and Thailand; Lao PDR and Viet Nam; and Myanmar and Thailand. Targeted investments in shared SPS facilities will be considered. Operations and maintenance plans for infrastructure, involving smallholders, will be developed.

Output 2: Capacity for improved production and health of livestock and livestock products strengthened. The output will strengthen capacities of government staff in areas, such as (i) animal health services and extension; (ii) disease risk analysis and communication, (iii) field epidemiology, early detection, and hazard monitoring; (iv) laboratory business plans, protocols, and accreditation; (v) TADs, safety, and AMR risk management; (vi) emergency preparedness and responses; (vii) traceability systems; (viii) livestock and meat inspection; (ix) operation of feedlots and quarantine facilities; and (x) cold chain management. A gender-responsive information technology-based platform for preventing livestock epidemics and an e-traceability system will be piloted. Government staff will be trained on (i) hazard analysis and critical control points, (ii) good manufacturing practices towards certification for ISO 22000 or equivalent; (iii) certification of livestock service providers, and (iv) integration of e-traceability systems in disease risk communication and management systems harmonized with ASEAN standards. Smallholders will receive training on disease reporting, monitoring, and livestock value addition options.

Output 3: Enabling policies for better supply, health, safety, and trade in livestock and livestock products enhanced. This output will provide gender-responsive policy support for (i) effectively integrating smallholders and promoting women's roles in livestock production and value addition; (ii) recognizing equivalence and harmonization of quality and safety systems in the GMS to support the formalization of trade in livestock and livestock products; (iii) incentivizing the use of e-traceability systems; and (iv) mobilizing the private sector investment into DCZs, feedlots, and processing facilities, including those related to COVID-19 responses.