Toward more equitable One Health:A Gender Responsive and InclusiveImplementation Guide for National OneHealth Action Plans (GeRIGOH)

Abstract

Background: Gender equity and social inclusion are critical, yet still at risk of being neglected during the development and implementation of national One Health action plans. The guidance provided by the Quadripartite international organizations (World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, and World Organization for Animal Health) recognize these principles, but they lack specific guidance on how to effectively integrate them at the national level. This article introduces the Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Implementation Guide for National One Health Action Plans (GeRIGOH), developed by the NEOH Gender Working Group, as a practical tool to support the integration of gender equity and social inclusion into national One Health action plans. It is intended for One Health practitioners seeking to embed inclusive, equity-centered approaches throughout One Health planning and implementation. Methods: GeRIGOH aligns with the five key steps of the Quadripartite international organizations’ Guide for implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action at the national level: situation analysis, setting up multi-sectoral One Health coordination, planning for implementation, implementation and reviewing, sharing and iteratively acting on lessons learned. Results: GeRIGOH offers 32 key yes/no questions and considerations to support equitable decision making, inclusive stakeholder engagement, fair access to resources, and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Conclusion: Although GeRIGOH focuses on national-level action planning, it offers principles and questions that may inform inclusive approaches more broadly and serves as a vital tool for advancing more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient One Health outcomes.