Table 2 Structure of food safety technical working groups in Vietnam and Ethiopia
Characteristics | Vietnam | Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
Purpose | Shared objective of providing a forum for experts and food safety stakeholders to share information, collaborate, and develop policy advice on food safety at the national level | |
Scope | Broad in scope, potentially addressing multiple stages of the food supply chain (e.g. production, processing, distribution, consumption) as well as multiple hazards (e.g. biological, chemical, physical risks) without focusing on a particular type | |
Core activities | - Scientific (e.g. compile scientific evidence on the food safety risks, develop risk assessment tools) - Policy (e.g. develop recommendations to update existing legislations, compile examples of successful models) - Communication (e.g. develop plans to promote good practices, organize awareness-raising events) | - Coordination (e.g. create opportunities for information sharing, maintain a database of on-going initiatives) - Policy (e.g. develop recommendations to update existing legislations, advocate for risk-based approaches to food safety) - Communication (e.g. develop plans to promote good practices, participate in awareness-raising events) |
Set-up and operations | - Established in 2015 - Integrated under the Vietnam One Health Partnership later in 2023 - Meetings held quarterly - All members participate in meetings and contribute to activities | - Established in 2023 - Integrated under the National One Health Steering Committee upon establishment - Meetings held quarterly - All members participate in meetings and contribute to activities |
Governance | - Chair and co-chair, roles filled by government representatives or development partners on a rotating basis every two years, coordinate meetings - Secretariat, filled by a government representative on a rotating basis every two years, manages administrative tasks | - Chair and co-chair, roles filled by government representatives on a rotating basis every year, coordinate meetings - Secretariat, filled by a government representative or development partner on a rotating basis every year, manages administrative tasks |
Government representatives initially involved | - Ministry of Health - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Ministry of Industry and Trade - Office of the Government | - Ministry of Health - Ministry of Agriculture - Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration - Environmental Protection Authority - Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority |
Development partners initially involved | - World Bank - Canadian Embassy to Vietnam - Embassy of New Zealand - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - World Health Organization - Japan International Development Agency - Asian Development Bank - International Livestock Research Institute | - The Ohio State University-Global One Health Initiative - World Health Organization - Food and Agricultural Organization - United Kingdom Health Security Agency - United States Agency for International Development - World Food Programme - International Livestock Research Institute - Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |