The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), a CGIAR center co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia with headquarters in Nairobi and Addis Ababa and 14 offices across Asia and Africa, has been officially designated as the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH) first Collaborating Centre for One Health. This milestone recognition highlights ILRI’s pivotal role in promoting integrated solutions at the intersection of animal, human, and environmental health especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Speaking at WOAH’s 92nd General Session, ILRI Director General, Appolinaire Djikeng, expressed pride in this new partnership. “We are honored by WOAH’s designation of ILRI as a Collaborating Centre for One Health. This recognition reinforces our commitment to leveraging livestock research for healthy people, healthy animals, and healthy ecosystems,” he stated. Djikeng emphasized ILRI’s ongoing work with partners across Africa and Asia to deliver innovative One Health solutions that enhance animal health management, drive innovation, mitigate emerging global threats, and build sustainable resilience within global food systems.
As WOAH’s Collaborating Centre, ILRI will concentrate on key areas including disease prevention particularly zoonotic and emerging pathogens through enhanced surveillance and early warning systems. The center will also prioritize biosecurity and value-chain interventions designed to reduce disease risks, alongside epidemiological modeling, socio-economic impact assessments, and targeted policy engagement.
A notable focus will be on developing climate-smart strategies that address vulnerabilities in animal health linked to environmental change, thereby reinforcing resilience against climate-related health challenges.
WOAH Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran praised ILRI’s interdisciplinary approach, which closely aligns with WOAH’s vision for One Health. She highlighted the collaboration’s potential to transform scientific research into actionable policies, strengthen international standards, and safeguard animal health, trade, and global food security.
This partnership marks a critical step forward in bridging science and policy, fostering stronger, more resilient animal health systems worldwide, and addressing complex, interconnected health challenges through an integrated One Health approach.
