WHO and France Launch New Initiatives for One Health Action

On World Health Day, global leaders convened in France for a significant "One Health Summit," where the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners unveiled a series of new, tangible actions aimed at enhancing the protection of people, animals, and the planet against future health crises.

Hosted by France, the Summit signifies a significant advancement in translating the One Health approach—which acknowledges the deep interconnections between human health, animal health, and the environment—into practical action. This year's World Health Day theme, "Together for health. Stand with science," established the framework for the announcements made.

The urgency could not be clearer. Climate change, environmental degradation, unsafe food, water contamination, biodiversity loss, and unequal access to healthcare are among the most pressing challenges facing the world today. About 60% of known infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, and around 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. The COVID-19 pandemic alone resulted in an estimated 15 million deaths and caused trillions of dollars in economic losses globally in 2020-2021.

To prevent the next crisis before it starts, the WHO and global partners are enhancing the One Health approach, which unites experts from health, agriculture, environment, and science to identify risks sooner and respond more quickly.

"The health of people, animals, and the environment we share are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. "The One Health approach brings together expertise to work across silos and sectors to prevent and respond to threats more effectively. WHO thanks France for hosting this Summit, and we remain committed to working with partners and countries to turn commitment into action and accelerate global progress for humans, animals, and our planet.”

As the host of the One Health Summit, France reiterated its leadership and dedication to promoting One Health, advocating for international collaboration, fostering global scientific partnerships, and driving practical solutions forward.

“One Health is not just about protecting health; it is about recognizing that we live as one system, where the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment is inseparable,” said Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France. “France is determined to move One Health from ambition to implementation, working with the World Health Organization and our global partners to prevent the next crisis before it begins. Science must guide our action, and cooperation must be our strength.”

Bringing together Heads of State, ministers, experts, and policy-makers, the Summit highlighted how coordinated efforts strengthen international dialogue and mobilize public and private partners for the common goal. The outcomes of the Summit will inform ongoing international discussions – including the G7 – on preparedness and coordinated responses to health threats at the human, animal, and ecosystem interface.

Joining forces with global partners, WHO has outlined the following specific actions:

WHO is planning to launch a new Global Network of One Health Institutions to achieve the goals of the One Health Joint Plan of Action and will invite the Quadripartite partners to participate.

This new initiative is designed to mobilize multidisciplinary expertise and provide stronger, more coordinated support to countries. It will enhance the translation of global guidance into practical tools and on-the-ground support, strengthening training and peer learning through the WHO Academy and other relevant institutions, and creating a clearer, country-focused delivery model for One Health implementation.

WHO and Quadripartite partners announced the extension and expansion of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), the world’s leading scientific advisory body on One Health. Its mandate will now run through 2027, with a new phase planned for 2027–2029, reinforcing its role in three priority areas: in shaping the global research agenda, supporting the One Health Joint Plan of Action, and driving high-level advocacy grounded in science and evidence.

WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Institut Pasteur have launched a renewed global initiative aimed at eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030. This disease currently claims the lives of nearly 60,000 people each year, many of whom are children. The initiative, led by countries where the disease is endemic, will enhance and strengthen political commitment along with community-based surveillance and research. It will utilize rabies elimination as a model to bolster broader One Health surveillance and preparedness systems.

WHO and Quadripartite partners have introduced a new Strategic Framework for Collaboration on avian influenza. This framework enhances coordination in areas such as surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness, and response. It assists countries in moving from fragmented efforts to a cohesive One Health strategy, which tackles the broader effects of avian influenza on public health, food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

WHO is also assuming the Chairmanship of the Quadripartite collaboration, taking on an enhanced leadership role for coordinated global action alongside FAO, WOAH, and UNEP. Under WHO's Chairmanship, the Quadripartite partnership will prioritize delivering measurable impact at the country level, streamlining governance, and aligning efforts around a focused set of high-impact priorities, while further strengthening advocacy, norm-setting, and evidence generation.

Alongside the Summit, the WHO is launching its first Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs), which will be held from April 7 to 9. The Forum is gathering high-level representatives, including the Minister of Health of France, ministers from Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa, as well as the Vice-Minister of Health of Japan, together with over 800 WHO CCs from more than 80 countries.

The Global Forum will act as a progressive platform to enhance collaboration among prominent academic and research institutions around the world, fostering scientific innovation, facilitating data sharing, coordinating research efforts, and building capacity.

Both the One Health Summit and the Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres convey a clear message: addressing the complex health challenges of today requires enhanced multilateral cooperation, increased investment in science, and ongoing efforts to implement the One Health approach into tangible action both globally and locally.

Editor’s note

On 9 April 2026, a correction was made to the first sentence of the paragraph beginning "A new global network of institutions on One Health." It now reads as follows:

WHO is planning to launch a new Global Network of One Health Institutions to achieve the objectives of the One Health Joint Plan of Action and will invite the Quadripartite partners to participate.