Advancing the One Health Agenda: An Intersectional Approach to Sustainability Policies in South and Southeast Asian Countries
Advancing the One Health Agenda: An Intersectional Approach to Sustainability Policies in South and Southeast Asian Countries
Overview
The project “Advancing the One Health Agenda: An Intersectional Approach to Sustainability Policies in South and Southeast Asian Countries” aims to bridge the gap between global commitments to the World Health Organization's One Health agenda and its practical implementation at national and local levels.
While the One Health approach is widely recognized as an essential framework for addressing zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health threats, many countries in South and Southeast Asia continue to face challenges such as weak governance, limited technical capacity, inadequate intersectoral coordination, and difficulties translating policies into action.
Funded by Keele University, United Kingdom and implemented by Green Tara Nepal, the study employs a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to generate evidence, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and co-create actionable policy recommendations. The project runs from September 2025 to September 2026.
Work Packages
- Systematic Scoping Review of One Health Policies
- Stakeholder Mapping Across Target Countries
- Assessment of Community Participation in Policymaking
- In-depth Stakeholder Consultations
- Virtual Multi-country Co-creation Workshop
- Development of Policy Recommendations
- Capacity Building for Policy Engagement
- Production of Policy Briefs and Storytelling Videos
- Establishment of a Sustainable Research-Policy Network
Project Objectives
- Conduct a systematic scoping review of existing One Health policies and sustainability frameworks in selected South and Southeast Asian countries.
- Identify and map key stakeholders including government agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners engaged in One Health initiatives.
- Review evidence on community participation and assess how citizen engagement contributes to effective One Health policymaking.
- Facilitate a virtual stakeholder workshop to validate findings, identify regional priorities, and co-create culturally appropriate policy recommendations.
- Build long-term partnerships among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to support evidence-informed policy development.
- Strengthen institutional and individual capacity in policy engagement through accessible knowledge products, including policy briefs and storytelling videos.
Teams and Partners
- Funding Institution: Keele University, United Kingdom
- Lead Implementing Organization: Green Tara Nepal
- Principal Investigator (UK): Dr. Szu, Keele University
- International Academic Partner: Keele University, United Kingdom
- Principal Investigator (Nepal): Mr. Ram Chandra Silwal, Executive Director, Green Tara Nepal
- Workshop Facilitator: Dr. Szu, Keele University
Participants and Stakeholders
- Government Policymakers and Officials from Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Environment, Forests, and Wildlife across South and Southeast Asia.
- Public Health Professionals including epidemiologists, veterinarians, environmental scientists, researchers, and health practitioners.
- Community Representatives and Leaders engaged in local health, environmental, and development initiatives.
- Academic and Research Institutions contributing to One Health evidence generation and policy analysis.
- National and International NGOs supporting health, environment, and sustainability programs.
- International Organizations such as WHO, FAO, and WOAH involved in regional One Health initiatives.
Project Timeline and Key Activities
| PAR Phase | Key Activities | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Diagnosis and Design | Conduct policy review, evidence synthesis, and stakeholder mapping to establish baseline understanding. | September – December 2025 |
| Phase 2: Engagement | Conduct in-depth interviews and consultations to understand challenges, opportunities, and stakeholder perspectives. | January – March 2026 |
| Phase 3: Collaboration and Co-creation | Facilitate a virtual stakeholder workshop to validate findings and co-create policy recommendations. | April – June 2026 |
| Phase 4: Expansion and Sustainability | Develop storytelling videos, policy briefs, disseminate findings, and establish a sustainable regional research-policy network. | July – September 2026 |