Mohammed El-Ansary, assistant to the FAO representative in Egypt, told SciDev.Net that countries would use the system to monitor migratory and domestic birds for disease and share information.

National action plans for combating bird flu will also be prepared through the initiative.

Activities will begin as soon as each country appoints a national coordinator and a steering committee is formed to implement the plans.

El-Ansary said the FAO would provide US$400,000 of funding to start the project.