Why invest in One Health?

The interconnected health challenges faced by the world today require a transformative approach that unifies efforts to safeguard the health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems. The One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) offers a roadmap for addressing root causes of health threats while advancing sustainable development. Economic development has often come at the cost of ecosystem health, with drivers such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution increasing health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. This urgency for action is highlighted by the devastating consequences of zoonotic diseases like SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19, alongside antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and food safety issues.

One Health definition

The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) defines One Health as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. It recognises that the health of these sectors is closely linked and interdependent, mobilising multiple sectors and communities to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health.

Quadripartite collaboration on One Health

The Quadripartite collaboration comprises the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This partnership promotes multi-sectoral solutions and supports governments via three pathways of change: governance, policy, and financing; organisational and institutional development; and data, evidence, and knowledge exchange.

The returns on investment

Understanding how human, animal, plant, and environmental health interact is essential for preventing crises. A 2022 World Bank report estimates that investing in One Health-guided prevention costs USD 10.3–USD 11.5 billion annually, which is less than 1 per cent of the economic toll of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Prevention costs approximately one third of the cost of preparedness, with an estimated annual rate of return of up to 86 per cent. Benefits include lower CO2 emissions, strengthened food safety, and reduced economic impacts from animal diseases.

The need for more and targeted investment

While landmark commitments from the G20 and G7 have helped catalyse domestic budgets and multilateral lending, current funds largely focus on preparedness and response. There remains a vast need for upstream prevention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where gaps in governance, financing, and capacity development persist. The AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) and Nature for Health are key examples of existing initiatives, but more targeted investment is required to mitigate health risks and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Quadripartite in action

Global perspectives highlight the impact of Quadripartite support. In West Africa, collaboration with ECOWAS has helped develop a One Health Regional Strategic plan. In Central America and the Dominican Republic, SE-COMISCA utilises the Quadripartite model to address health and environmental challenges through multidisciplinary networks. Africa CDC also leverages this partnership to address shared threats including zoonotic diseases, AMR, and food safety through impactful policies like the OH JPA roll-out.

The Quadripartite Joint Offer

The Quadripartite presents a Joint Offer to facilitate the national uptake of the OH JPA. This initiative acts as a catalyst by leveraging global tools, scientific expertise, and strategic advocacy. The offer focuses on creating inclusive mechanisms to strengthen governance, foster multisectoral coordination, and secure sustainable financing at domestic, regional, and international levels.

The One Health Joint Plan of Action – guiding framework for national action

The OH JPA consists of six action tracks designed to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to health threats. These tracks include: enhancing One Health capacities; reducing risks from zoonotic epidemics; controlling zoonotic, neglected tropical, and vector-borne diseases; strengthening food safety risk management; curbing the silent pandemic of AMR; and integrating the environment into One Health.

National uptake and implementation

The implementation process follows five practical steps: situation analysis (stakeholder mapping); governance and coordination (establishing mechanisms); implementation planning (prioritising activities); action plan execution (implementing interventions); and review and learning. Engagement with countries is guided by principles such as country demand, institutional capacity, data needs, equity, and South-South cooperation.

The ask – catalytic funding to support countries

The Quadripartite calls for catalytic funding to support at least ten countries spanning all regions over an implementation timeframe of three to five years. This support is delivered through four service streams: contextualised implementation; knowledge and evidence; political engagement; and investment leverage. The goal is for countries to adopt the OH JPA through enhanced collaboration and to secure domestic and global investments for sustained action.