Introducing Our One Health Journey in The Gambia

Welcome to the online platform for “Striving for One Health in Action in The Gambia” – a research initiative led by Professor Eric Fèvre and Dr. Tessa Cornell, in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Ministry of Agriculture, The Gambia.

Why One Health in The Gambia?

This project has been designed in response to a direct need in The Gambia – to move One Health discussions in the direction of actionable policy recommendations and integration of transdisciplinary approaches in practice.

In comparison to countries across the African continent, which have developed One Health institutional frameworks and strategic plans, The Gambia lacks an established, active and coordinated One Health mechanism. Although multisectoral task forces have been formed ad hoc, for example in response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), One Health activities remain fragmentary and siloed within a group of governmental and academic bodies.

Our Mission

Our project, funded by Research England Policy Support Fund 2023-24 and hosted by the University of Liverpool, aims to explore awareness, interpretation, and prioritisation of the One Health concept amongst policymakers and stakeholders in The Gambia. Stakeholders across government, academia, national and international health agencies, and civil society will be engaged using participatory research methods. The long-term objectives are to provide novel and actionable evidence to bridge the gaps between One Health in theory and in practice, and to inform the development of One Health national frameworks that promote healthy socio-ecological systems and embrace sustainability and equity.

The Road Ahead

Over the next seven months, project activities include:

• Interviews and Focus Group Discussions with One Health stakeholders (March-June 2024): To capture diverse perspectives on One Health in The Gambia.
• Student engagement and co-creation of One Health educational tools (March-July 2024): To explore One Health in action in the context of The Gambia, to ensure sustainable dissemination of research outcomes, and to engage students across multiple disciplines as One Health advocates.
• Policy briefing document production (June-July 2024): To disseminate research outcomes directly to One Health stakeholders.
• Stakeholder event (date TBC): A pivotal moment to disseminate our research findings and provide a forum for discussion about next steps.

What Can You Expect from This Blog?

• Regular updates: Stay informed about our project’s progress and milestones.
• Behind-the-scenes insights: Get a glimpse of the challenges and triumphs we encounter along the way.
• Stories from the field: Hear directly from the stakeholders and communities at the heart of our project.
• Expert opinions: Learn from key partners about One Health perspectives in The Gambia and beyond.

Join Us!

We believe in the power of collaboration and community. We invite you to follow along, engage with us, and be a part of this research initiative.

Please feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts, questions, or suggestions. Your engagement is vital to our success.