Supporting Data-Driven Tsetse Eradication Efforts in Africa

"The IAEA technical cooperation programme is supporting African countries to advance coordinated strategies for the area-wide integrated pest management. By strengthening surveillance, developing national atlases and supporting the application of the sterile insect technique, these efforts are helping countries move toward sustainable tsetse-free zones that protect livelihoods and strengthen food security," said Gashaw Wolde, Acting Director of the Division for Africa, IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation.

In 2024, the 'Thematic Plan for the Development and Application of the Sterile Insect Technique for Tsetse Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management Programmes ' was updated to take into account current constraints, gaps and challenges, as well as, the research needs to support field projects. It now offers a revised strategic document for integrating SIT with other complementary tools for the large-scale control of tsetse flies.

"Technologies underpin progress in prevention, suppression and eradication of tsetse flies. Through the Sterile Insect Technique, we support Member States in scaling integrated eradication efforts sustainably," said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre.

Once key prerequisites like mass-rearing and irradiation capacities, baseline data and feasibility studies are already in place, sustainable tsetse-free zones can be established through integrated control methods and phased conditional approach. By building and strengthening their technical capacities, African countries can help ensure the successful implementation of the tsetse management, contributing toward the eventual suppression or eradication of tsetse.