First Meeting of the ASEAN Rabies Coordination Group (ARCG)

Background

ASEAN Member States have committed to ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, in alignment with the global Zero by 30 goal. The revised ASEAN Rabies Elimination Strategy (ARES) provides the regional framework to get there. To drive its implementation, ASEAN established the ASEAN Rabies Coordination Group (ARCG), a regional platform bringing together animal health and public health focal points from all eleven ASEAN Member States, supported by the ASEAN Secretariat and Quadripartite partners (WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP).

Objectives

The First ARCG Meeting marks the activation of this regional coordination platform. Participants will:

• Share national updates on rabies situations and progress across ASEAN Member States
• Review and advance the ARES Implementation Plan and regional monitoring and evaluation framework
• Establish working mechanisms for data sharing, laboratory networking, and cross-border coordination
• Agree on priority actions and a regional Way Forward for 2026–2027

Details

Date(s): 16 – 18 June 2026

Venue: Manila, Philippines

Agenda: 1st ARCG Meeting, Manila (June 2026)

Participation: By invitation