Strengthening One Health through Coordinated Action and Policy

Today, the Fourth Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting will convene in Lyon, France, on April 8-9, 2026. The meeting will focus on preventing future health crises by establishing more integrated systems for managing the health of animals, humans, plants, and ecosystems.

Preventing future health crises requires urgent, coordinated action that acknowledges the profound interconnections between the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. As global challenges escalate—including emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change—this collaborative effort among the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Health Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), commonly referred to as the 'One Health' approach, has become increasingly vital.

'The health of humans, animals, and the environment are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three,' said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. 'The WHO is privileged to assume the chair of the Quadripartite at a critical moment for global health. In an era marked by rising and interconnected challenges, the Quadripartite partnership is more vital than ever, as it unites expertise across human, animal, plant, and environmental health to facilitate coordinated global action through a fully integrated One Health approach.'

Building on the One Health Joint Plan of Action, the Quadripartite is making strides in four interdependent priority areas:

Together, these priorities allow countries to mitigate risks at their origin, identify emerging threats promptly, and respond effectively to health challenges, all while establishing resilient systems. Key elements of this approach include enhanced surveillance and early warning systems, resilient food and agricultural frameworks, healthy ecosystems, and strong veterinary and public health services.

Scaling up One Health requires a continuous commitment across all four areas. The Quadripartite urges governments, international financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector to back integrated actions by enhancing implementation, investing in science and data, strengthening governance and policy frameworks, and ensuring sustainable financing.

Advancing One Health is essential to reducing risks at the human-animal-environment interface and building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The Quadripartite organizations reaffirm their commitment to collaborating with partners worldwide to deliver coordinated, impactful, and sustainable One Health actions.