World Organisation for Animal Health
A global cross-sectoral approach is required to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) work collaboratively as a tripartite with the aim of tackling AMR through a One Health approach. They support countries to develop and implement National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR.
Since 2016 the Fleming Fund has provided funding to WOAH (founded as OIE) to tackle AMR as part of a joint proposal for funding from the Tripartite. Funding has been used to: support countries to develop and implement NAPs, develop global guidance and protocols on AMR and antimicrobial Consumption (AMC), support the establishment of effective AMR governance systems, increase the technical capacity of countries, raise awareness of AMR and change behaviours in targeted sectors, and support effective collaboration across the Tripartite.
This work creates the enabling environment for the generation, sharing, and use of AMR surveillance data and directly supports the implementation of the Fleming Fund country grants programme.
The World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH)
August 2016 - March 2020
£5m
Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South and South East Asia.
Objectives
- to support the development and implementation of NAPs on AMR that are aligned by the global action plan and with intergovernmental standards and guidelines established by Codex Alimentarius and WOAH
- to support coordinated surveillance and reporting on AMR in human and animal health and agriculture
- to collect, consolidate and publish information on the global consumption of antimicrobial medicines for each sector (human and animal health)
- to strengthen and review the concepts of critically important antibiotics for human and animal health
- to develop standards and guidance, based on the best available evidence
- to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training
Activities
- develop, update and revise WOAH standards on the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobial agents for implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
- development and maintenance of a comprehensive global database on the use of antimicrobial agents in animals over time for global benchmarking purposes and to support LMICs obtain a baseline overview of drugs officially circulating and gradually move towards better control of quality assured antimicrobials
- improve awareness and understanding of AMR and of alternatives to the use of antimicrobial agents, thus strengthening capacities in LMICs
- support LMICs put into place appropriate legislative frameworks which address AMR and monitor their progress and compliance with WOAH standards