Strengthening governance for antimicrobial resistance: a One Health perspective

Summary

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a complex global health challenge requiring coordinated action across human, animal, plant and environmental sectors. Context-specific One Health governance is essential to unlocking the full potential of applying a One Health approach to effectively mitigate AMR. Drawing on empirical examples from countries implementing One Health governance, this article explores how One Health governance – defined as the structures, processes and mechanisms that enable intersectoral coordination, collaboration and decision-making across the human, animal, plant and environmental health sectors – can be used to overcome key barriers to implementing One Health approaches. The authors propose a set of normative principles, including transparency, sustainability, inclusivity and equity, to guide One Health governance, and identify six core dimensions – participation, leadership, decision-making, coordination, resourcing and accountability – that should be considered when designing governance models. The need for context-specific adaptation is emphasised, recognising that governance solutions must align with national political, institutional and socio-economic realities. While One Health governance offers considerable promise, the authors also reflect on enduring challenges, including entrenched sectoral silos, unequal power dynamics, and reliance on external funding. Sustained investment in interdisciplinary capacity strengthening, long-term resourcing strategies, and inclusive and transparent decision-making mechanisms are all needed to support resilient and effective governance in addressing AMR.

Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance – Context specificity – Governance – Multisectoral coordination – National action plan – One Health.