The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) welcomes the landmark conclusion of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations, a decisive and historic step toward strengthening global health architecture through multilateral cooperation.
Finalised amid a backdrop of persistent and emerging health threats such as avian influenza, mpox, and Ebola, this achievement underscores the critical role of animal health in pandemic prevention and reinforces the urgent need to invest in prevention efforts at their source. This milestone also affirms WOAH’s long-standing advocacy to place One Health at the core of global health governance. Notably, the inclusion of provisions for zoonotic disease prevention and antimicrobial resistance marks critical progress in pandemic prevention at source.
As a key partner in the Quadripartite Collaboration on One health, WOAH particularly applauds the Agreement’s recognition of the One Health approach, which bridges human, animal, and environmental health to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all.
WOAH has spearheaded critical efforts to support Member Countries in embedding prevention and One Health principles into global health governance. Throughout the negotiation process, we provided technical expertise by actively participating in expert roundtables and informal sessions. We supported our Members with
science-based guidance at every stage of the process. We also issued several official statements, often in collaboration with our Quadripartite partners, advocating for animal health, prevention and One Health inclusion.
Once adopted by the World Health Assembly in its next meeting in May 2025, WOAH stand ready to support our Members in implementing this Agreement by:
“This Agreement marks a turning point,” said Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, WOAH Director General. “Now begins the vital work of implementation: transforming commitments into robust health systems, equitable financing, and lasting One Health capacities.”
