Wednesday, 29-30 April 2026, 9:00–10:15 (CEST)
Background
The COVID19 pandemic underscored how health risks emerge at the human–animal–environment interface and how multisectoral coordination is essential for effective prevention, preparedness, and response to health threats. The International Health Regulations (IHR) remain the cornerstone of global health security, while One Health provides a practical, multisectoral approach to strengthen preparedness and response capacities. IHR amendments and the Pandemic Agreement signal a strengthened global commitment to outbreak prevention and preparedness, including an emphasis on One Health collaboration.
This two-part webinar series will 1) explain how One Health is reflected within the IHR and the Pandemic Agreement and what it means for IHR States Parties, and 2) showcase concrete country and regional experiences on strengthening core IHR capacities to address zoonotic diseases through multisectoral coordination.
Objectives
- Raise awareness of WHO’s approach to using One Health to strengthen pandemic preparedness capacities in line with the IHR and in support of the Pandemic Agreement.
- Provide an overview of IHR, IHR amendments and where One Health fits.
- Highlight the One Health dimension of the Pandemic Agreement and what it means for State Parties
- Emphasize why coordinated action across relevant sectors, especially between human, animal, and environment is essential to meet and sustain IHR capacities.
- Introduce operational tools that countries can use to plan, implement, and monitor capacities to effectively prevent and manage zoonotic diseases through a One Health lens.
- Share regional and country examples to strengthen IHR capacities to address zoonotic diseases through One Health collaboration.
- Discuss practical enablers, challenges, and lessons learned in operationalizing the One Health approach to address zoonotic diseases, including governance, workforce, surveillance and data sharing.
Tentative Agenda and Speakers
29 April: IHR, One Health & operational tools
Connecting the dots—how One Health strengthens IHR capacities and supports the Pandemic Agreement
Introduction: EPI-WIN Science and Knowledge Translation, WHO
Welcome remarks and objectives: Moderator
Setting the scene: Dr Rajesh Sreedharan, Team Lead, Capacity Assessments, Planning and Readiness, WHO
Pandemic Agreement overview: Emphasis on the One Health article and multisectoral implications:
Dr Sophie Von Dobschütz, Team Lead, Global COVID-19 and other Coronaviruses Programme, WHO
Operationalizing One Health to address zoonotic diseases: Dr Stéphane de la Rocque, Unit Head and
Dr Guillaume Belot, Technical Officer, Capacity Assessments, Planning and Readiness unit, WHO
Panel: What does effective coordination look like across human–animal–environment sectors? All speakers
Q&A
Wrap up & Day 2 preview
30 April: IHR, country & regional experience sharing
From policy to practice—using WHO tools to strengthen IHR capacities through One Health
Welcome & recap of Day 1: Dr Ong-orn Prasarnphanich, Capacity Assessments, Planning and Readiness unit, WHO and Dr Supriya Bezbaruah, Lead, EPI-WIN Science and Knowledge Translation, WHO
Case spotlights:
Tonga: Dr Joseph Takai, Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Tonga
Nigeria: Dr Nasir Ahmed, Deputy Director, Surveillance and Epidemiology, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
Bhutan: Dr Lung ten (MSc, BVSc & AH), Program Director, National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), Bhutan
Kazakhstan: Dr Zaure Akhmetova, Adviser to the Chair of the National Center of Public Health, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Emergency Project Coordinator
Jordan: Dr Lora Alsawalha, Public Health Officer, WHO JordanInteractive discussion & Q&A : All speakers
Key takeaways, resources, and next steps