Completed Widespread outbreaks of African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) in eastern Africa and the Great Lakes region of central Africa resulted in a request for a visit to assess the situation and develop two projects for Rwanda and Burundi, during April and May 1999. When the outbreaks in the region had eased off, a further follow-up mission was required by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at a regional level, covering Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The purpose of the mission was to review the armyworm situation in all five countries, and prepare work plans for the two projects to include 2 periods of two weeks for a Spray Application Specialist. 1. To carry out an evaluation To prepare a report for Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for discussion in Rome on 2nd November 1999. Evaluate the progression and development of outbreaks in each country. As much information as possible on the epidemiology of the Armyworm season as gathered and is fully reported upon in the report to FAO.Assess the role of Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa in assisting those countries. The DLCO-EA is only mandated to support three of the five countries, however they provided material support to all of the countries. The organisation is financially very insecure and is not able to fulfil all aspects of its mandate.Evaluate the operation of the monitoring systems within each country. Neither Rwanda nor Burundi had a monitoring network, but will have now. Networks in the other countries while still operating are very much reduced and need strengthening.Initiate the Technical Cooperation programmes resulting from the documents produced during a previous visit. The documents were awaiting signature, however work plans and TOR's were prepared to enable the projects to go ahead once they had been signed in country and by FAO.To develop a regional support project for Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. A TCP document was prepared for submission to FAO.To prepare a report for FAO for discussion in Rome in November 1999. An electronic copy of the report was sent to FAO on 15 October. Hard copies were prepared after discussion in Rome.