One Health

COVID-19 – a wake-up call: The pandemic that we are currently experiencing, but also the emergence of other zoonoses, along with the growing incidence of antimicrobial resistance, make clear how important it is that we approach the topic of health with a broader understanding than has been the case up to now.

Because of that – and in order to avert the risk of health crises like the present pandemic in the future – the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is promoting the One Health approach.


The One Health approach

The One Health approach is based on the understanding that there are close links between the health of humans, animals and the environment. The One Health approach serves the goal of prevention and fosters interdisciplinary cooperation, in particular between human medicine, veterinary medicine and environmental science. The central focus of One Health is on the interfaces between humans, domestic animals, livestock and wild animals, and the ecosystems in which they live.

Graphic representation of the One Health approach: One Health is at the centre and there are interdependencies between human health, animal health and a healthy natural environment.

Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
The diversity of species and habitats on Earth is vital to all life, including human life. That is why it is so important to protect the natural environment in all its diversity, especially in the most biodiverse regions of the world. Nature conservation also lessens the risk of future pandemics, because viruses are particularly likely to jump from animals to humans when previously untouched natural areas are destroyed and ecosystems are thrown off balance.
Svenja Schulze Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development

Fighting infectious diseases using the One Health approach

Infectious diseases pose a threat for people and animals. They are a particular threat for people living in low- and middle-income countries.

An example of this is the group of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Most of these infectious diseases can lead to death or chronic health issues and disabilities if left untreated. NTDs are not as well known as the “big four”, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and hepatitis, although they affect roughly one billion people – mainly people who are poor and without resources.

Deficits in health care provision and hygiene practices – for example in regard to food, drinking water and slaughter waste – particularly encourage the spread of NTDs. In order to effectively prevent and fight NTDs, it is necessary to follow a One Health approach that takes account of the interfaces between humans and the organisms that transmit the diseases (so-called vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks), and ecosystems (for example swamps and lakes), food products, drinking water and climate.

Fields of action

In order to implement the One Health approach, the BMZ is actively engaged in four fields of action, spending up to 150 million euros a year as of 2021:

As at: 14/10/2022