One Health Initiative
The One Health Initiative acts as the Secretariat for the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), acts as the WHO Secretariat of the FAO/UNEP/WHO/WOAH (quadripartite) to support One Health related activities, coordinates interagency engagement and partnership, coordinates WHO internal One Health workplans and facilitates interactions with multiple initiatives on One Health to reduce fragmentation.
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Secretariat of One Health groups and initiatives

 

UNICEF/Mulugeta Ayene
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One Health High-Level Expert Panel

End May 2021, the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) was launched with 26 selected key international experts. The OHHLEP has an advisory role to the Partners and is expected to provide advice to the Partners to support their provision of evidence-based scientific and policy advice to address the challenges raised by One Health.

The OHHLEP’s advice will contribute to enhancing strategic orientations and coordination, and to providing high political visibility on the subject of One Health. It will be based on the analysis of scientific evidence on the links between human, animal and ecosystem health, and contribute to foresight on emerging threats to health. It will improve a common and better understanding of the impacts of food systems (including agriculture, livestock farming and trade, wildlife hunting and trade, aquaculture, animal products processing, handling, distribution and consumer practices) as well as ecological and environmental factors that may be contributing to zoonotic disease emergence/re-emergence and spillover events.

Access the OHHLEP website
ILRI/Georgina Smith
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Quadripartite collaboration

The Quadripartite Collaboration (FAO/UNEP/WHO/WOAH) is an umbrella strategic coordination mechanism addressing all spectrum of One Health. It was set up to work towards “A world capable of preventing, detecting, containing, eliminating, and responding to animal and public health risks attributable to zoonoses and animal diseases with an impact on food security through multi-sectoral cooperation and strong partnerships”. Currently, the Quadripartite developed a One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA). The OH JPA encompasses the priority areas of the Tripartite work plan 2021 and provides an overarching framework for longer-term actions. The OH JPA is intended to guide the four organizations to work together on One Health with the aim of supporting their Members/Member states/State Parties to build One Health capacities. ​

Learn more on the Quadripartite Secretariat for One Health

 

 

 

WHO One Health internal coordination

Along with the creation of WHO One Health Initiative (OHI), a WHO One Health Internal Coordination mechanism (WIC) is established with the goal of supporting a strategic, coordinated and aligned One Health position and use of One Health approach within WHO. The WHO One Health Internal Coordination mechanism is led by the Steering Committee (WIC-SC) who provides the strategic lead for WHO’s One Health approach, as well as defining the objectives of WHO One Health Initiative and allocating resources appropriately to support its functions.

A Technical Team (WIC-TT) is also established to ensure regional and technical engagement from all technical colleagues working on One Health related activities across the Organization. The Technical Team provides an exchange forum for relevant technical teams working on One Health within WHO. They provide technical input to the Steering Committee to inform the WHO strategic directions on One Health and communicate asks from technical teams to the Steering Committee.