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Abstract

Risks of zoonotic pandemics are increasing worldwide. In Kenya, zoonoses prevalence remains extremely high – not only threatening human and animal life, but also posing a significant socio-economic burden.  

Operationalising One Health remains a major challenge at local levels and local One Health governance mechanisms are scarce globally. Meanwhile, little has been done to bridge food system approaches to health-related topics, besides food and nutrition security. Finally, social sciences remain underrepresented in One Health literature. The ZoNoH project aims to bridge these gaps.  

In line with the Kenya national One Health strategic plan, ZoNoH will support two Kenyan County One Health Units (COHU), which are local  platforms bringing together One Health key stakeholders from one county. A hands-on service is being designed with the aim of equipping COHUs to better manage zoonoses in their food systems, hence contributing to preventing future pandemics. The service offers three specific objectives: 1) to foster One Health and Food Systems operationalization, 2) make existing data (at global, national, and local levels) on zoonoses impact on local food systems available to COHU members and 3) support with the co-creation of contextualised zoonoses management strategies.  

Through an iterative process the building blocks of the service are being outlined by an interdisciplinary team. It comprises: a scoping step, where a zoonotic challenge will be prioritised by COHU members; an analytical step, where the impacts of the selected zoonotic challenge on the food system and in the different One Health dimensions will be explored to foster a holistic understanding  of the current context; an identification of the leverage points in the food system; an exploration of the possible scenarios to evolve towards a desirable future and a prioritisation of the desired pathways of change; and the elaboration of a concrete action plan to operationalize this pathway. Each step comprises of a combination of workshops and desk research, tapping into multiple disciplines. The service  will be peer-reviewed and tested before piloting with two COHUs.  

The service aims to support One Health governance mechanisms in practice. By fostering a more inclusive and coordinated response to a concrete One Health challenge, i.e. a zoonotic challenge, ZoNoH will pave the way in supporting local One Health governance organisations. It will support Kenya as a pioneer in this field and open new perspectives to operationalise One Health in the food system to the benefit of humans, animals and our environment. 

Abstract

• Background:

The prevalence of zoonoses is escalating globally, posing significant threats to both human and animal populations and imposing substantial socio-economic burdens. Despite the validity of managing zoonoses using One Health (OH) principles, operationalizing such approaches at the local level remains a challenge. Additionally, local OH governance mechanisms are scarce worldwide. Zoonoses directly affect or are affected by the food system dynamics. Little has been done to bridge food system approaches to (one) health other than via a food and nutrition angle. The ZoNoH project seeks to address these gaps by employing a holistic approach grounded in the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model. We hypothesize that by enhancing the capability, opportunity, and motivation of local decision-makers, they can effectively leverage the benefits of OH to manage zoonoses within their food systems.

• Methods:

In alignment with Kenya’s national OH strategic plan, the ZoNoH team collaborates with two Kenyan County One Health Units (COHUs), local platforms that bring together key OH stakeholders. An interdisciplinary team iteratively designed a hands-on, replicable service aimed at enhancing the capability, opportunity, and motivation of COHU members to manage zoonoses in their food systems. The service focuses on three specific objectives: 1) fostering OH and Food Systems operationalization, 2) making existing data on the impact of zoonoses on local food systems available to COHU members at global, national, and local levels, and 3) supporting the co-creation of contextualized zoonoses management strategies.

• Results:

The service comprises a scoping step, where COHU members prioritize a zoonotic challenge; an analytical step, where the impacts of the selected challenge are explored using an original integrated food system and OH lens; and a co-creation step, where visioning exercises and concrete pathways for change are developed. To ensure broad ownership and maximize resource availability, relevant food system stakeholders are invited to join COHU members in this process. Meanwhile, activities aimed at promoting their motivation to jointly adopt OH approaches are envisioned. Ultimately, ZoNoH will facilitate connections with potential investors to ensure that COHUs have the opportunity to implement their solutions. The service, peer-reviewed by external OH experts from diverse backgrounds, is now ready for piloting with two COHUs.

• Conclusions:

ZoNoH service aims to strengthen OH governance mechanisms. By designing a replicable service that enhances the capability, opportunity, and motivation of COHU members, ZoNoH will pilot its service with two COHUs, offering an opportunity to support local decision-makers in managing zoonoses within their food systems. By fostering a more inclusive and coordinated response to concrete OH challenges, ZoNoH aims to support local OH governance organizations while attracting new investors. This initiative positions Kenya as a pioneer for operationalizing OH in the food system, benefiting humans, animals, and the environment. 

Abstract

Background:

The evolution of One Health governance necessitates further refinement. Despite efforts, encouraging decision makers and donors to embrace One Health principles in practice remains a challenge. This initiative aims to contribute to the integration of One Health principles into various initiatives and societal frameworks through the provision of appropriate tools. 

Methods:

Utilizing existing (One) Health dashboards and tools from grey literature, we developed a comprehensive evaluation tool tailored for the rapid assessment of proposals based on One Health dimensions. The dimensions were derived from relevant literature. Designed for individual qualitative assessment, the tool is user-friendly and hands-on. Both the assessment process and its outcomes are deemed significant, fostering reflections and peer discussions to enhance initiatives toward One Health and guide investments. The tool’s efficacy was evaluated with two groups: academics and potential One Health investors. 

Results: 

The tool has been developed within the Excel environment. It enables the thorough assessment of impacts, synergies, and trade-offs of Global One Health proposals. Users can evaluate the (anticipated) impacts of proposals across 66 dimensions categorized into 8 aspects of One Health: Project One Health-ness, Governance One Health-ness, Human Health, Animal Health, Plant Health, Ecosystem Health, Environmental Health, and Earth System Health. It also facilitates reflection on potential trade-offs and synergies between these aspects, with flexibility to tailor assessments to specific needs. Visual summaries, such as spider diagrams and synergy/trade-off tables, offer insights into proposal performance. 

The tool is designed for individual use, with results supporting and guiding group conversations. Peer testing indicated interest in the tool’s functionality, particularly its user-friendly interface and ability to provide rapid assessments of One Health initiatives, fostering reflection among users committed to advancing the One Health agenda. Recognized for its versatility, the tool is deemed applicable to various projects. Areas for improvement include refining the included dimensions and aspects, adjusting tool design and accompanying user guide, and exploring collective assessment options. 

Conclusions:

This assessment tool provides a practical opportunity for a diverse community of practitioners to evaluate, reflect upon, and enhance the design of their initiatives with respect to One Health principles. Suggestions for further development include incorporating collective assessment options, refining the selection of One Health dimensions, and expanding its applicability across different contexts. Overall, this tool contributes to the mainstreaming of One Health principles in governance mechanisms.