DLCO-EA Mission & Vision
Mission
To offer its services in the co-ordination and reinforcement of national action against the desert locust in the region.
Vision
To be a center of excellence in migratory pest and vector control and management.
Core Values
Mutual Respect
Mutual respect and clear recognition of their respective mandates and acknowledgement of each other’s comparative advantage.
Teamwork
Ensuring that joint activities promote synergies and enhance outcomes while avoiding duplication.
Fairness
Clear identification of modalities for cooperation, resource requirements and funding sources.
Accountability & Transparency
Readily demonstrable and measurable results.
Integrity
We are committed to consistently doing what is right.
Rationale Behind The Regional Organization
The mandated insect and bird pests migrate across international borders; they breed and multiply rapidly; they move over long distances and attack crops, pasture and other vegetation; while the Tsetse flies transmit a deadly sleeping sickness disease to livestock and humans when they move into an area in increased numbers.
Regional co-operation facilitates regular exchange of information, early detection, and hence rapid deployment of operational personnel and equipment for timely intervention to reduce damage, etc.
Damage caused by plagues of the Desert Locust to crops, pasture and other vegetation in the past e.g. Between 1928-1959, ran into millions of US Dollars per annum – a situation which was detrimental to the realization of food security in Eastern Africa and other affected Regions, and for which a regional approach was best.
Regional forecasting and warnings benefit the countries, which at the time, may not be suffering from pest attack, but which are under potential threat of invasion from elsewhere.
Regional training builds capacities, encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences freely between member states, and contributes to more efficient pest and vector management and improved food security in the region.
The regular Ministerial Council Meetings at rotating venues in member countries, contribute towards a common understanding between member states and stronger regional co-operation.
The Regional Organization facilitates the channeling of regional assistance to plant protection services of member states, and the procurement and utilization of regional funds from donors which are of immediate benefit to member states.