18 April 2024, Addis Ababa. The fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Ethiopia received a significant boost as key stakeholders from the public and private sectors converged in Addis Ababa from 16 to 18 April for a pioneering Public-Private Partnership (PPP) workshop. The initiative, organized under the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) project, spearheaded by the tripartite collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the World Health Organization (WHO), the workshop aimed to bolster the implementation of Ethiopia's AMR strategic plan through collaborative efforts.

AMR is a threat to food security, livelihoods, global health, and sustainable development, primarily driven by the growing use and misuse of antimicrobials. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this challenge, stakeholders convened to build upon the results of last year's evaluation of the One Health AMR Prevention and Containment Strategic Plan: 2021–2025. The evaluation, conducted using the FAO Progressive-Management Pathway (PMP) AMR tool, provided valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing the plan's implementation.

In alignment with these recommendations and to foster stronger partnerships between public and private stakeholders, a PPP workshop for AMR strategic plan implementation in Ethiopia convened for 46 participants (6 females), including representatives from the animal health, human health, food safety, and the environment sectors.

The workshop was opened by Dr Wubishet Zewdie, Lead Executive Officer for Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture. and Dr Getnet Mekonnen, Deputy Director of the Ethiopian Animal health Institute (AHI), who highlighted the critical importance of public-private collaboration in combatting AMR. Tenaw Andualem Tadege, FAO Ethiopia AMR program lead and the AMR MPTF coordinator, presented the achievements and contributions of the AMR MPTF project from 2021 to April 2024 across sectors in Ethiopia. He underscored the collaborative spirit driving the initiative forward and reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting Ethiopia in its efforts to combat AMR and safeguard public health. Key highlights of the workshop included stakeholder landscaping and mapping exercises, and in-depth discussions on PPP business case development and risk management. Participants, organized into sub-groups based on AMR strategic objectives, actively shared their expertise and insights, culminating in the development of PPP concept notes tailored to address AMR challenges in Ethiopia.

The workshop concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and determination among participants, reflecting the collective commitment to confronting the AMR threat through sustained collaboration and innovative partnerships.

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Further information on this article and AMR in Ethiopia can be obtained from FAO Ethiopia, AMR Program lead, Tenaw Andualem Tadege, email: [email protected]