Health leaders from around the world are gathering in Lyon, France, on 8–9 April 2026 for the Fourth Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, aimed at preventing future health crises through coordinated action across human, animal, plant, and environmental health. The meeting brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to advance the “One Health” approach.

One Health emphasizes that the health of people, animals, plants, and ecosystems are deeply interconnected. As global challenges intensify—ranging from emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance to biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and climate change—the Quadripartite partnership has become increasingly critical.

“The health of humans, animals, and the environment are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “WHO is privileged to assume the chair of the Quadripartite at a critical moment for global health. Coordinated expertise across sectors is essential to prevent and respond to interconnected threats.”

Building on the One Health Joint Plan of Action, the Quadripartite is advancing progress across four interdependent priorities:

  1. Country-level implementation: Supporting nations to operationalize One Health through strengthened multisectoral coordination, national planning, and capacity development. Scaling implementation is crucial for measurable impact.
  2. Science, evidence, and knowledge exchange: Promoting collaboration with the scientific community, integrating data across sectors, and using evidence to guide decisions, interventions, and progress monitoring.
  3. Policy engagement and governance: Strengthening political commitment, cross-sectoral coordination, and enabling policy frameworks to embed One Health into national and international agendas.
  4. Sustainable financing: Aligning resources, supporting investment frameworks, and helping countries integrate One Health into budgeting and development strategies.

Together, these priorities aim to prevent risks at the source, detect emerging threats early, and respond effectively, while building resilient systems. Robust surveillance, healthy ecosystems, sustainable food and agriculture systems, and strong veterinary and public health services are central to this approach.

The Quadripartite calls on governments, financial institutions, development partners, and the private sector to strengthen implementation, invest in science and data, reinforce governance, and ensure sustainable financing to scale up One Health.

Advancing this integrated approach is essential to reducing risks at the human–animal–environment interface and to building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The organizations reaffirm their commitment to delivering coordinated, impactful, and lasting One Health action worldwide.