From partnership to action: ILRI and WOAH deepen global One Health collaboration.

When the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) was designated as the first One Health collaborating center of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the announcement signaled a growing recognition that global animal health challenges require deeper integration between research, policy, and implementation.

A 16 February meeting between ILRI leadership and WOAH director general Emmanuelle Soubeyran at ILRI's Nairobi campus has now begun translating that designation into concrete priorities, positioning the collaboration as a strategic platform to shape how animal health, climate change, and One Health governance evolve globally.

The discussions focused on aligning scientific research, global standards, and policy advocacy under a shared vision: strengthening animal health systems as a cornerstone of food security, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability.

Moving from designation to delivery

"This is a partnership built on shared priorities and mutual commitment," said Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI director general. "We have been generating evidence on animal health and climate change that needs to be on the main stage. Our role in strengthening veterinary service capacities positions us to deliver meaningful impact alongside WOAH."

Soubeyran welcomed the collaboration's expansion into emerging areas such as climate change and its growing impact on animal health systems. " What is important in our collaboration is working on the technical and scientific aspects that support member states in realizing biothreat reduction and disease control," she said. "We need research to inform risk assessment and policy. We also need data to convince decision makers that investing in animal health delivers strong returns."

For both organizations, the One Health collaborating center represents more than a symbolic partnership. It provides a structure for integrating research evidence into global animal health standards, risk assessments, and policy guidance used by countries worldwide.

A shared agenda built around five pillars

Ekta Patel, ILRI scientist and lead point of contact for the WOAH One Health Collaborating Center, outlines the joint strategic collaboration framework structured around five core pillars: disease surveillance, modeling and risk assessment; biosecurity and animal health interventions across value chains; animal health and climate-smart One Health strategies; workforce development and community engagement; and governance, policy, and legal frameworks.

“This is not just a research agenda, “Patel noted. “It is our institutional commitment to aligning science with the realities on the ground where animal, human, and environmental health intersect. By grounding our work in evidence, we aim to support member states to anticipate risks, shape policy, and make informed decisions.”

Together, these areas aim to bridge scientific innovations with operational implementation, ensuring research findings inform real-world decision-making. 

Simon Brooker, who leads ILRI's health program, emphasized that collaboration with organizations like WOAH enables research to move beyond academic outputs toward actionable policy and programmatic guidance. "Our goal is improving the health of livestock, farming communities, and the shared environment, with research that directly informs policy," he said.

Climate change emerges as a defining frontier.

Climate change became a central theme of the discussions, reflecting increasing global concern about how shifting ecosystems alter disease dynamics, livestock productivity, and environmental impacts.

Soubeyran highlighted emerging challenges at the intersection of genetics, productivity, and climate adaptation. "We have members asking us to develop standards for new breeding techniques and their impact on animal health," she said. "Issues like crossbreeding dynamics and disease tolerance connect productivity, climate resilience, and health outcomes. We need integrated thinking."

WOAH emphasized the need for stronger data to understand how animal health interventions influence climate outcomes, including greenhouse gas emissions, resilience pathways, and the environmental implications of disease control strategies such as large-scale culling campaigns.

Djikeng noted that ILRI has already generated significant evidence linking livestock health, climate resilience, and sustainable production systems, positioning the partnership to bring these insights onto global policy platforms through initiatives such as the Livestock and Climate Solutions Hub.

Data, economics, and the case for investment

A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the role of data in strengthening advocacy and decision-making. WOAH highlighted the importance of quantifying the economic burden of animal diseases and demonstrating return on investment to policymakers.

The Global Burden of Animal Diseases initiative was highlighted as a key tool for advancing this agenda, providing data-driven insights that connect animal health outcomes to economic productivity and development priorities. The model will be integrated into the framework's first pillar on socioeconomic impact assessment.

For both organizations, stronger economic evidence is essential to elevate animal health within broader discussions on climate adaptation, trade, and global health security.

Toward proactive research and prevention

Participants agreed that the collaboration should prioritize anticipatory research rather than reactive responses to outbreaks. Targeted areas identified for alignment with global strategies include rabies elimination, zoonotic tuberculosis, Rift Valley fever, and avian influenza.

"The collaboration between WOAH and ILRI is important in shaping the One Health research agenda," said Lillian Wambua, WOAH regional One Health officer. "We need to craft research that addresses prevention, so we're not constantly reacting. As a global collaborating center, our agenda should be proactive."

Strengthening governance and capacity in Africa

The meeting highlighted the strategic value of locating the collaborating center in Africa, where One Health governance frameworks remain uneven across many low- and middle-income countries.

"We only institutionalize One Health when we have the data to support it," Wambua said. "Countries need evidence to justify legal frameworks, budget allocations, and institutional reforms. Our research strength can address that evidence gap, particularly in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries where governance remains a constraint. 

ILRI expressed willingness to support capacity strengthening for national veterinary services, aligning with WOAH's Performance of Veterinary Services program that evaluates and strengthens veterinary system performance globally.

Looking ahead

The significance of the meeting lies in how it advances a new model of collaboration between research institutions and intergovernmental organizations to shape the future of One Health. By aligning WOAH’s global authority in animal health standards with ILRI’s scientific expertise and regional reach, the partnership seeks to translate evidence into policy and accelerate progress toward healthier livestock systems, resilient communities, and more sustainable food systems in a climate-constrained world.