93rd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates

The 93rd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) will take place from Monday, 18 to Friday, 22 May 2026 in Paris, France. 

This invitation-only event will convene 183 WOAH Members and representatives from international organisations who have signed an official agreement with WOAH. The 93rd General Session will also bring together observer countries and territories, WOAH key stakeholders, and special guests.

As a major institutional event for the Organisation, the General Session will provide an opportunity for the World Assembly of Delegates to:

• Adopt international standards,
• Discuss technical topics of global interest, 
• Adopt administrative and technical resolutions, including the 8^th  Strategic Plan, 
• Examine and approve various reports,
• And, where applicable, proceed with the election of vacant positions within certain governance bodies.

As part of the General Session, WOAH will dedicate one day to an Animal Health Forum on the theme : “Investing in Animal Health to Secure Everyone’s Future.”  The Forum will highlight the strategic role of animal health in economic stability, food security and global health resilience. It will explore solutions ranging from national resources prioritisation and innovative financial partnerships to private sector engagement and research-based innovation.
 
While being a face-to-face event, all sessions will offer simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.

The detailed programme of the General Session will be made available soon.

Animal Health Forum: 
Investing in Animal Health and Welfare to Secure Everyone’s Future 

18–19 May 2026 | CNIT Forest, Paris 

The Forum brings together a whole-of-society coalition of actors shaping the future of animal health and welfare, including government leaders such as Ministers of Finance, Agriculture, and Health; financial institutions and investors, from the World Bank Group to private investment funds and venture capital; industry pioneers across agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and AgTech; and civil society and community representatives, including farmers, livestock associations, and local cooperatives. 

The investment paradox 

Animal health and welfare underpin food security, human well-being, trade and economic prosperity across communities and value chains. Yet, despite a global livestock market valued at US$1.37 trillion, investment in animal health and welfare remains chronically underfunded. This mismatch between economic importance and financing constitutes a clear investment paradox.  

The cost inaction is tangible. Many WOAH Members lack the minimum operational or emergency funding for their Veterinary Services, weakening prevention, detection and response capacity and creating systemic risks that spill beyond borders and supply chains. These vulnerabilities increasingly impact markets, investors, and national economies.   

At the same time, the returns on investment are compelling. Investments in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control alone are estimated to yield annual returns of 31–88%. More broadly, bringing Veterinary Services worldwide up to WOAH international standard compliance would cost just US$2.3 billion annually, roughly 0.1% of the livestock market’s value and less than 0.05% of the direct cost of COVID-19.

The challenge lies not only in mobilising the needed capital, but allocating responsibility. Animal health and welfare activities generate a mix of both public and private benefits, at both national and global levels. While the principle that “those who benefit should pay” is widely cited, it is difficult to apply in practice: animal health and welfare benefits spill over borders, along value chains, and between public and private actors, and no single stakeholder (whether government, producers, industry, or consumers) can bear the costs alone. Capacity to pay also varies widely, and there is therefore no universal funding formula. Financing decisions must therefore balance “the ability to pay” with mechanisms that share costs fairly and equitably among all beneficiaries.

The central question: who should pay for what in animal health and welfare, and how can investment be structured to share risks fairly and equitably while delivering sustainable returns? 

From “Cost” to “Strategic Investment” 

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is the intergovernmental body responsible for improving animal health and welfare worldwide. Established in 1924, it works with 183 Member Countries to set international standards, ensure transparency on animal health, and strengthen Veterinary Services through capacity building and global programmes. 

Each May, WOAH convenes its General Session, bringing together over 150 countries and around 1,300 participants. The first two days are dedicated to the Animal Health Forum, which each year focuses on a strategic issue of global relevance. To support discussions, WOAH develops a technical item, shared in advance with Members to frame the debate during the Forum and provide evidence-based insights. 

How to arrive?

Hotels close to the CNIT Forest

For any stay at an Adagio hotel, enjoy a 15% discount (stays of 3 nights or more) or a 10% discount (stays of 1 or 2 nights) with the company ID SCP4611319 and access code OR537FR886. 

PARTNER – Aparthotel Adagio Access La Défense Puteaux | (Serviced apartment)

19 min walk

PARTNER – Aparthotel Adagio La Défense Esplanade | (Serviced apartment)

12 min walk

PARTNER – 9Hotel Bastille-Lyon***

25 min by transport (RER A)

Mama Shelter Paris La Défense***

19 min walk

Hilton Paris La Défense****

1 min walk, inside CNIT

CitizenM Paris La Défense****

12 min walk

Meliá Paris La Défense****

14 min walk

Hotel Mercure Paris La Défense Grande Arche****

17 min walk

TRIBE Paris La Défense Esplanade****

23 min walk

Hotel La Régence***

13 min walk

Ibis Styles Puteaux Paris la Défense***

20 min walk

Ibis Paris La Défense Esplanade***

17 min walk

Hotel Vivaldi La Défense***

20 min walk

Hotel Le Dauphin***

20 min walk

Best Western Seine West Hotel***

28 min walk

Hotel Douglas Puteaux***

24 min walk

Hotel The Social Hub

19 min walk

Fraser Suites Paris La Défense | (Serviced apartment)

18 min walk

Staycity Aparthotels, Paris, La Défense | (Serviced apartment)

24 min walk

Citadines La Défense Paris | (Serviced apartment)

17 min walk