JGI Global welcomes the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly
In this blog, Dr Zara Bending reflects on recent developments from the World Health Organization.
In May 2025, at the plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) formally adopted a historic first Pandemic Agreement, following three years of thorough negotiation. This significant achievement is is only the second international agreement to be negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution (1).
However, there is some way to go before the Agreement enters into force. The Agreement will only open for signature once the WHA adopts an annex on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (to be negotiated through an Intergovernmental Working Group). The result of this process will be up for consideration at next year’s WHA. The Agreement will then enter into force after 60 ratifications.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, welcomed the Agreement’s adoption with the following statement:
“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement… The Agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during COVID-19.”
The Jane Goodall Institute has, since the early days of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (EWC), proudly stood alongside fellow International Champions in advocating for a Pandemics Instrument that expressly provides for a One Health approach and pandemic prevention. We were signatories to an Open Letter to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body responsible for drafting and negotiating the Agreement early last year.
JGI has long adopted a One Health approach in its in situ Africa Programs conservation work which recognises that the health of humans, non-human animals, and our shared environment is inextricably linked. Our Global advocacy on wildlife trade frequently discusses the risks of disease spillover on humans, including ramifications for public health, human security, and national and global economies.
Article 1 of the new Agreement provides a definition of ‘One Health approach’ as follows:
“One Health approach” for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response recognizes that the health of humans is closely linked and interdependent with the health of domestic and wild animals, as well as plants and the wider environment (including ecosystems), aiming for a sustainable balance, and uses an integrated multisectoral and transdisciplinary approach to pandemic prevention preparedness and response, which contributes to sustainable development in an equitable manner… “
Among its provisions, Article 4 recognizes ‘that a range of environmental, climatic, social, anthropogenic and economic factors, including hunger and poverty, may increase the risk of pandemics…’ and Article 5 provides that ‘[t]he Parties shall promote a One Health approach for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, recognizing that the health of people is interconnected with animal health and the environment, that is coherent, integrated, coordinated and collaborative among all relevant organizations, sectors and actors, as appropriate, in accordance with national and/or domestic law, and applicable international law, and taking into account national circumstances.’
As a science-based organisation, JGI commends inclusions in Article 9 regarding ‘Research and development’ which aim to promote greater international collaboration, access to research and rapid sharing of research information and results.
With data from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimating there to be approximately 1.7 million currently undiscovered viruses in mammal and avian hosts (of which approximately half could infect humans), JGI was pleased to see explicit references to ‘zoonotic disease spillover’ in the Agreement. Examples of emerging viral diseases that had their origin in wildlife reservoirs include AIDS, Ebola, SARS and MERS.
We hope that this new Agreement will form the basis of a more equitable and effective response to future pandemics and commend all those who had a hand in its passage.
Notes:
(1) the first being the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which was adopted in 2003
The WHA is the WHO’s peak decision-making body. Read more about the World Health Assembly and WHO governance here.
