Planet earth is home to a diversity of life forms that offer beauty and sustenance but also harbor health threats such as the recent Sars-Cov-2 pandemic. The One Health concept is vital for preserving the planet's delicate balance.

We human beings are fortunate to call planet earth our home. Its magnificent and diverse ecosystems teem with millions of remarkable plant and animal species. This diversity of life forms not only adds beauty and wonder to our surroundings but is also indispensable for the sustenance and survival of our very existence. However, amidst this astounding biodiversity, our ecosystems also harbors microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, which can pose threats to human health.

Around 75% of newly emerging diseases are so-called zoonotic diseases, originating in animals and transferred to humans. Aside from the Sars-Cov-2 virus, well-known examples are HIV, Ebola, swine and bird flu. To prevent zoonosis, a multi-sectoral approach is needed. The recent Covid pandemic has been a bitter reminder of the interconnectedness of all life forms and the vital need for a united approach to preserving the delicate balance of our planet.

The One Health concept is such a united approach that offers a transformative path towards safeguarding not just human health but the wellbeing of all living beings and the earth itself.

The One Health concept is such a united approach that offers a transformative path towards safeguarding not just human health but the wellbeing of all living beings and the earth itself. It incorporates multidisciplinary collaboration in the detection, prevention, and management of health risks, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and related phenomena. The core principle is the realization that ecosystem linkages and interdependencies require an integrated, multi-sectoral, and unifying approach that aims at balancing and optimizing human, animal, and ecosystem health in a sustainable manner. This principle recognizes the complement and enhanced connectivity among existing international agreements, advanced pandemic prevention and sustainable preparedness. Addressing the complex health issues at the human-animal-ecosystem interface requires multi-disciplinary experts and a broad range of stakeholders to manage and overcome the challenges effectively. At the global level, four major agencies collaborate to accomplish what no single sector can achieve independently composed – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This so called Quadripartite’s comprehensive Joint Action Plan on One Health primarily strives to harmonize global activities, effectively addressing health risks at the crucial interfaces between humans, animals, and ecosystems. The same objective is also increasingly pursued by development cooperation partners and donors such as the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), where an increased interest and investments in One Health projects and tailored strategies can be observed.

GFA projects and services

What is happening at a global scale also translates into the work of GFA. The multi-disciplinary fields of One Health represented across GFA’s technical departments invite collaboration and exchange. Relevant technical departments and units have started a regular sharing of knowledge in order to provide targeted and multi-sectoral consultancy services GFA projects advocate for sustainable and responsible environmental practices that safeguard ecosystems and minimize environmental factors contributing to health risks.

Sustainable Development Goals

By promoting the adoption of eco-friendly approaches, sustainable resource management, and pollution reduction, GFA experts aim at protecting human and animal health while preserving the integrity of relevant ecosystems in line with the SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), among others.

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GFA conducted a feasibility study to support Vietnam’s endeavors to prevent future zoonosis outbreaks through improved protected area management and better control of wildlife poaching and trade.

In 2022, experts of the Natural Resources & Environment Department of GFA conducted a feasibility study funded by KfW Development Bank on the prevention of zoonotic diseases through control and reduction of wildlife trade and poaching in Vietnam. Wildlife species there are not only losing their valuable habitats at an alarming rate, but they are also severely threatened by legal and illegal wildlife trade because the country is a source, destination and international transit hub for wildlife products. This situation has led to increased risks of zoonotic disease outbreaks as any situation that increases the proximity and contacts between animals and humans promotes disease spillover. In Vietnam, wildlife has historically been indiscriminately hunted, traded, and consumed. This encompasses rodents, carnivores, bats and primates, which represent the wild animal reservoirs with the highest proportion of zoonotic viruses. GFA developed several initiatives to support Vietnam’s national endeavors to prevent future zoonosis outbreaks through improved protected area management and better control of wildlife poaching and trade.

GFA experts suggest that better and more effective collaboration between the forestry and the health sector will be essential to reach this goal. At the provincial level, the project will establish pilot One Health (OH) networks at the human-animal-ecosystem interface, and support their operation by improving inter-agency and inter-sectoral cooperation between relevant stakeholders. By this means, the project will contribute to achieving the overall goals of Vietnam’s OH initiative as formulated in the OH partnership master plan 2021-2025. The future project will carry out risk analyses for zoonotic diseases, develop a risk management strategy, and implement and monitor the latter. In addition, an OH surveillance strategy will be designed and implemented. At the national level, the project will facilitate liaison and data sharing on wildlife diseases and zoonoses with relevant agencies through the OH Partnership for Zoonoses Secretariat. Improving hygienic and veterinary standards as well as introducing and enforcing safe practices in wildlife farms and animal rescue centers will be additional important project interventions. By supporting the testing for pathogens in wild animals, the project will further mitigate pandemic risks.

#zoonosis #WildlifeTrade #ProtectedAreaManagement #vietnam

Success stories from projects in Sub-Saharan Africa implemented by the Water, Sanitation & Waste Management Department of GFA (WS&WM) confirm that applying the One Health approach to WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) issues can create a more resilient, equitable and sustainable future.

Water is a key resource and an impact multiplier for One Health, an approach that optimizes the health of people, animals and ecosystems through cross-sectoral collaboration. Water scarcity and pollution increase the risk of infectious and vector-borne diseases, and affects food security, hygiene, sanitation, and ecosystem services. Given the interdependence and interconnection of these issues, the GFA WS&WM Department actively promotes collaboration across multiple sectors and disciplines to foster well-being and tackle health and ecosystem threats through integrated development planning and community outreach.

In the second phase of the Water Sector Reform project in Zambia from 2020 to 2022, GFA addressed the challenges of water supply and sanitation by promoting cross-sectoral solutions that advance equitable and holistic outcomes. On behalf of GIZ, GFA WS&WM experts facilitated the integration of One Health principles into District Water Sanitation and Hygiene Investment Plans by balancing the needs and interests of different sectors and groups. The project team explored potential synergies and conflicts among stakeholders competing for resources, and monitored environmental and social impacts of water and sanitation interventions.

In addition to integrated planning, the GFA WS&WM experts also offer comprehensive community outreach packages that promote WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) awareness and practice change. They work with schools and wider communities, using programs such as Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) that focus on social participation. In the mentioned project in Zambia, community members assisted by GFA analyzed their own sanitation practices and realized the negative impacts of open defecation on their health, environment and dignity. This led to collective action towards an improvement of WASH framework conditions.

In the project Water Supply and Sanitation for Refugee Settlements and Host Communities in Northern Uganda, financed by BMZ through GIZ between 2019 and 2024, GFA WS&WM has contributed to One Health by supporting numerous activities regarding hygiene promotion and awareness raising at the community level. During COVID-19 for example, the installation of group handwashing facilities at schools and health centers in refugee settlements and host communities has enabled the population to practice hygiene measures. As a contribution of this project to One Health, alternative latrine demonstration sites are built to promote latrine construction and tree-planting activities for water source protection. Moreover, GFA WS&WM also supports the rehabilitation of water schemes and sustainable operation and maintenance, which will safeguard sustainable water supply in the long run.

In Tanzania, GFA WS&WM has been implementing the Simiyu Climate Resilience Project - Consulting Services for Management Consultant financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the KfW Development Bank since 2021. The project aims at increasing the climate resilience of rural and urban households in the Simiyu region by improving policies and regulation for cross-sectoral action towards climate adaptation and by improving water supply, sanitation and agriculture through community-driven approaches by 2025.

2030 Agenda

The projects of the GFA WS&WM Department aim at demonstrating the value and potential of water as a catalyst for positive change across the overall goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and global health. The success stories from the projects mentioned above confirm the company’s belief that applying the One Health approach to WASH issues can create a more resilient, equitable and sustainable future for Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

#OneHealth #WASH #WaterForAll #integratedplanning #GFAPartnership #SDGs