News

28 February 2024 11:00 – 12:00  UNEP HQ, Niarobi, Kenya

Background

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in March 2022 ushered in a new era of collaboration for the longstanding Tripartite partnership (FAO-WHO-WOAH) with the formal inclusion of UNEP, to form the Quadripartite collaboration on One Health. After the formation of the Quadripartite, the first Quadripartite Annual Executive Meeting (QEAM 1) took place in Geneva in March 2023.

The QEAM provides the opportunity to review the progress achieved within the previous year and set the strategic direction and key actions to be taken going forward. At QEAM 1, WHO handed over the rotational role of Chair of the Quadripartite to UNEP, for a period of one year, until 31 March 2024.

Since QEAM 1, UNEP has chaired the Quadripartite and, in this capacity, has coordinated the activities between the four organizations, with a particular focus on the stronger integration of environmental considerations into One Health. Throughout the past year, the Quadripartite has achieved a number of milestones in its collaboration in the areas of policy advice and advocacy; strategy development and capacity building; and evidence and knowledge generation and utilization.

As Chair of the Quadripartite, UNEP has purposefully organized QEAM 2 back-to-back with the high-level segment of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) to build greater synergies and appreciation for multilateral environmental decision-making processes within the Quadripartite. UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment, with a universal membership of all 193 States Members of the United Nations. The participation of the Principals of the Quadripartite organizations at UNEA is an ideal opportunity to highlight the cross-sectoral collaboration of the leading international environmental, agricultural, animal, and human health organizations, and showcase the critical linkages between their areas of work and impact at global, regional and national levels. It is One Health in action and makes a compelling statement on the importance of the integration of the environment into the public and animal health discourse.

Overview of Sessions

QEAM 2 will be taking place from 29 February until 5 March 2024, in person at the headquarters of UNEP, located at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) compound. The Principals are expected to participate on 29 February and 1 March. There will be an optional field trip on 2 - 3 March for DGs and all participants. On 4 - 5 March, there will be a collaborative session for Quadripartite senior management, secretariat, and regional teams.

For detailed information, please contact: who-quadripartite-secretariat@who.int

More

One Health Initiative

SEE: The Second Quadripartite Annual Meeting (QEAM) (who.int)

https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/02/28/default-calendar/the-second-quadripartite-annual-meeting-(qeam)