Quadripartite partners and global stakeholders step up coordinated action at One Health Summit

At the One Health Summit held in Lyon on 7 April 2026, the Quadripartite collaboration, bringing together 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), joined global leaders and partners in calling for strengthened investment and partnership, and accelerated country-level implementation of the One Health approach.

Against a backdrop of converging crisis, including climate pressures, pollution, environmental degradation and growing strain on food systems, and increasing risks to animal health, contributing to the acceleration of health threats and pandemic risk, the Summit, hosted by France, emphasized that stronger political commitment and coordinated multilateral action are critical to safeguard the health of humans, animals and ecosystems alike.

"The One Health approach is no longer a choice. It is a strategic imperative in an unstable but increasingly interconnected world," said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care at the World Health Organization. "Together, we are committed to working in partnership and strengthening the Quadripartite, working with colleagues across the sectors on the five shared deliverables which mark a decisive shift from commitment to implementation to help equip countries with the science, systems and partnerships needed to integrate One Health in all policies, and prevent future crises across our sectors."

Building on their shared commitment, the Quadripartite partners presented a coordinated package of priority deliverables aimed at supporting country-level implementation. These actions, led jointly or individually, in line with each agency's respective mandate, reflect a collective ambition to translate political momentum into operational impact.

1. Stronger science to guide global action

Quadripartite partners announced the extension of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) through 2027, with a further phase planned for 2027-2029. The Panel will continue to guide the global research agenda, support implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OHJPA), and drive high-level advocacy grounded in science and evidence.

2. A unified strategy to tackle the threat of avian influenza

The Quadripartite partners and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) presented a new Strategic Framework for Collaboration on avian influenza, aimed at strengthening coordination across surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness and response. The framework responds to the increasing spread of the disease across species and regions, and will support countries in shifting from fragmented approaches to a unified One Health strategy on avian influenza, addressing its impacts on public and animal health, food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

3. Strengthening the One Health workforce through joint learning

FAO, WHO and WOAH launched a Joint One Health Learning Taskforce (JOHLT) to strengthen workforce capacities at global, regional and national levels. Based on a competency-based and learner-centred approach, the initiative connects existing learning platforms and programmes to support both formal education and continuous professional development across sectors. It aims to harmonize training approaches, foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, and scale up effective One Health implementation through a skilled and empowered workforce.

4. A new push to eliminate rabies by 2030

Institut Pasteur, WHO, WOAH, and FAO, launched a renewed global initiative to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030, a disease that still kills nearly 60 000 people each year, many of them children. Led by endemic countries, the initiative will strengthen vaccination programmes, surveillance, and community engagement, demonstrating the effectiveness of prevention at source, and using rabies elimination as a model to strengthen broader One Health surveillance and preparedness systems.

5. Advancing the role of veterinary services in pandemic preparedness

Led by WOAH, in collaboration with WHO, a new "Beyond Silos" initiative aims to strengthen the integration of veterinary services into national pandemic preparedness and emergency response systems through a One Health, whole-of-government approach. Building on lessons from COVID-19, it includes the development of global guidance, pilot implementation through simulation exercises, and targeted advocacy to support long-term health security and resilience.

"The five priority deliverables reflect a shared commitment to move from alignment to action," said Thanawat Tiensin, FAO Assistant Director-General, Director of Animal Production and Health Division and Chief Veterinarian. "By working together across sectors and partners, we are helping countries reduce risks at their source, protect agrifood systems, and build more resilient and sustainable health systems."

"The Summit delivered a clear message: health security begins with prevention, and prevention requires sustained investment in integrated One Health systems", said Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health. "Strengthening animal health systems could prevent significant economic losses, currently estimated at US$ 300 billion annually, while delivering high returns on investment and protecting livelihoods, food systems, and global stability."

"The health of people, animals and the planet is indivisible. When we degrade ecosystems, pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink, and destabilize the climate, we drive the very health crises we then scramble to contain," said Doreen Robinson, Deputy Director, of the Ecosystem Division at the United Nations Environment Programme. "It was encouraging to see the Summit and the scientific conference shine a light on non-traditional One Health issues, including the environmental drivers of disease, that need sustained attention. It is crucial that we put this understanding into practice. Because investing in nature is an investment in health and well-being."

Together, the joint engagement and deliverables presented at the Summit illustrate the added value of the Quadripartite collaboration, combining joint action with complementary leadership across agencies to support countries in implementing the One Health approach.

As global risks continue to intensify, partners called on governments, donors and stakeholders to sustain the momentum from the Summit by investing in integrated One Health systems and translating commitments into measurable results on the ground.

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