Participants at the end of the One Health policy mapping and cost benefit analysis workshops @FAO/Mark Nanyingi

Nairobi – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have partnered in the Quadripartite to implement an One Health approach, which recognises that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems is connected and it has to be approached with a cross-sectoral orientation. Although there is increasing attention to One Health globally, applying the approach routinely and in public policy remains a major challenge at national and sub-national levels.

In this respect, the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU), Kenya’s national Multisectoral Coordination Mechanism, in collaboration with FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), conducted two consecutive workshops, from 16 to 18 February 2022, in order to provide a complete picture of the operationalisation of the One Health approaches and the evidence to inform policy decisions for effective planning and resource mobilisation. The first workshop discussed the methodology used, the data which has been collected during COVID-19 restriction and the preliminary results on the mapping of One Health activities and analysis of policy instruments. The second workshop engaged subject matter experts to provide inputs on a proposed framework for Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of One Health preparedness, prevention, detection and response interventions in the country using the example of Rift Valley Fever disease. Counties to be involved in the study and the questionnaires to be used for data collection were discussed.

Another key issue from the workshops is that, of the 14 national policy and instruments (Acts, Strategies, Strategic Plan, Action Plans, Action Plans) mapped for One Health institutionalisation, about half explicitly mentioned "One Health", while the rest partially imply or lack emphasis on the approach.

Overall, the implementation of the One Health approach in the country is progressive. However, it faces significant challenges due to low awareness among policy makers that influences limited resource allocation to national and county level.

Dr. Mark Nanyingi, who represented FAO ECTAD, affirmed that the need for development of a One Health policy and governance structures that will strengthen multi-sectoral collaborations with emphasis on national budget allocations supported by partners for effective operationalization of One Health approaches in Kenya.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Athman Mwatondo, from ZDU, on behalf of the Ministry of Health, reiterated the need for evidence-based research that can guide the country in a cost-effective model for implementation and institutionalization of One Health approaches that should be cascaded to the subnational level using the County One Health Units.

At the end of the two workshops, it was concluded that the One Health activity and policy mapping should be conducted at field level with expanded stakeholder presence. In addition, revised cost benefit analysis questionnaires shall be circulated within one month to gather relevant but specific data on interventions in piloted counties, in order to gather more economic variables. Furthermore, a validation workshop will be organised to discuss the updated One Health activity and policy mapping and the preliminary results of One Health intervention CBA.

For further information, kindly contact:

Joseph Othieno

National Communications Specialist

FAO Kenya

Email: [email protected]

Yanira Santana

Emergency Reporting and Outreach Specialist

FAO ECTAD Africa

Email : [email protected]