Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward

Virgil Kuassi Lokossou; Nnomzie Charles Atama; Serge Nzietchueng; Bernard Yao Koffi; Vivian Iwar; Nadia Oussayef; Chukwuma David Umeokonkwo; Casey Barton Behravesh; Issiaka Sombie; Stanley Okolo; Edgard Marius Ouendo

doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291

Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward

Virgil Kuassi Lokossou^*, Nnomzie Charles Atama, Serge Nzietchueng, Bernard Yao Koffi, Vivian Iwar, Nadia Oussayef, Chukwuma David Umeokonkwo^*, Casey Barton Behravesh, Issiaka Sombie, Stanley Okolo, Edgard Marius Ouendo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Virology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Based on recommendations from two consultative meetings held in Dakar, Senegal (2016) and Abuja, Nigeria (2017) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) implemented a Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism (R-OHCM). This study analyzed the process, challenges and gaps in operationalizing the R-OHCM in West Africa. We utilized a scoping review to assess five dimensions of the operation of an R-OHCM based on political commitment, institutional structure, management and coordination capacity, joint planning and implementation, as well as technical and financial resources. Information was gathered through a desk review, interview of key informants, and the viewpoints of relevant stakeholders from ECOWAS region during a regional One Health technical meeting in Lomé, Togo in October 2019. It was found that political commitment at regional meetings and the countries adoption of regional frameworks were key strengths of the R-OHCM, although there are continued challenges with commitment, sustainability, and variability of awareness about One Health approach. ECOWAS formulated regional strategic documents and operationalized the One Health secretariat for strengthening coordination. The R-OHCM has technical working groups however, there is need for engagement of more specialized workforce and a harmonized reporting structure. Furthermore, inadequate focus on operational research, and weak national OHCM are identified as main gaps. Finally, the support of technical and financial partners will help to address the lack of funding which limits the implementation of the R-OHCM. West Africa has demonstrated profound effort in adopting the One Health approach at regional level but is presently deterred by challenges such as limited skilled One Health workforce, especially in the animal and environmental health sectors, and access to quality of One Health surveillance.

Original language	English
Article number	100291
Journal	One Health
Volume	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the funding from the World Bank Group through the Regional Disease Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) project, the Regional Office of USAID through the Leadership and Capacity Strengthening Project for West Africa, the GIZ and the European Union through the Regional Pandemic Preparedness Project for the implementation of OHCM in ECOWAS region. We are also grateful to experts and representatives from ECOWAS Member States and all other partners for their continuous support to the regional and national One Health Coordination Mechanisms in West Africa. We really appreciate their roles before and during the One Health Technical meeting in Lomé (Togo).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 West African Health Organisation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291Licence: CC BY

Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanismFinal published version, 986 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Lokossou, V. K., Atama, N. C., Nzietchueng, S., Koffi, B. Y., Iwar, V., Oussayef, N., Umeokonkwo, C. D., Behravesh, C. B., Sombie, I., Okolo, S., & Ouendo, E. M. (2021). Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward. One Health, 13, Article 100291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291

@article{5296ceed918741ee950b5bb12adfea35,

title = "Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward",

abstract = "Based on recommendations from two consultative meetings held in Dakar, Senegal (2016) and Abuja, Nigeria (2017) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) implemented a Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism (R-OHCM). This study analyzed the process, challenges and gaps in operationalizing the R-OHCM in West Africa. We utilized a scoping review to assess five dimensions of the operation of an R-OHCM based on political commitment, institutional structure, management and coordination capacity, joint planning and implementation, as well as technical and financial resources. Information was gathered through a desk review, interview of key informants, and the viewpoints of relevant stakeholders from ECOWAS region during a regional One Health technical meeting in Lom{\'e}, Togo in October 2019. It was found that political commitment at regional meetings and the countries adoption of regional frameworks were key strengths of the R-OHCM, although there are continued challenges with commitment, sustainability, and variability of awareness about One Health approach. ECOWAS formulated regional strategic documents and operationalized the One Health secretariat for strengthening coordination. The R-OHCM has technical working groups however, there is need for engagement of more specialized workforce and a harmonized reporting structure. Furthermore, inadequate focus on operational research, and weak national OHCM are identified as main gaps. Finally, the support of technical and financial partners will help to address the lack of funding which limits the implementation of the R-OHCM. West Africa has demonstrated profound effort in adopting the One Health approach at regional level but is presently deterred by challenges such as limited skilled One Health workforce, especially in the animal and environmental health sectors, and access to quality of One Health surveillance.",

author = "Lokossou, {Virgil Kuassi} and Atama, {Nnomzie Charles} and Serge Nzietchueng and Koffi, {Bernard Yao} and Vivian Iwar and Nadia Oussayef and Umeokonkwo, {Chukwuma David} and Behravesh, {Casey Barton} and Issiaka Sombie and Stanley Okolo and Ouendo, {Edgard Marius}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the funding from the World Bank Group through the Regional Disease Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) project, the Regional Office of USAID through the Leadership and Capacity Strengthening Project for West Africa, the GIZ and the European Union through the Regional Pandemic Preparedness Project for the implementation of OHCM in ECOWAS region. We are also grateful to experts and representatives from ECOWAS Member States and all other partners for their continuous support to the regional and national One Health Coordination Mechanisms in West Africa. We really appreciate their roles before and during the One Health Technical meeting in Lom{\'e} (Togo). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 West African Health Organisation",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

journal = "One Health",

issn = "2352-7714",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019)

T2 - Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward

AU - Lokossou, Virgil Kuassi

AU - Atama, Nnomzie Charles

AU - Nzietchueng, Serge

AU - Koffi, Bernard Yao

AU - Iwar, Vivian

AU - Oussayef, Nadia

AU - Umeokonkwo, Chukwuma David

AU - Behravesh, Casey Barton

AU - Sombie, Issiaka

AU - Okolo, Stanley

AU - Ouendo, Edgard Marius

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the funding from the World Bank Group through the Regional Disease Surveillance Enhancement (REDISSE) project, the Regional Office of USAID through the Leadership and Capacity Strengthening Project for West Africa, the GIZ and the European Union through the Regional Pandemic Preparedness Project for the implementation of OHCM in ECOWAS region. We are also grateful to experts and representatives from ECOWAS Member States and all other partners for their continuous support to the regional and national One Health Coordination Mechanisms in West Africa. We really appreciate their roles before and during the One Health Technical meeting in Lomé (Togo). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 West African Health Organisation

PY - 2021/12/1

Y1 - 2021/12/1

N2 - Based on recommendations from two consultative meetings held in Dakar, Senegal (2016) and Abuja, Nigeria (2017) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) implemented a Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism (R-OHCM). This study analyzed the process, challenges and gaps in operationalizing the R-OHCM in West Africa. We utilized a scoping review to assess five dimensions of the operation of an R-OHCM based on political commitment, institutional structure, management and coordination capacity, joint planning and implementation, as well as technical and financial resources. Information was gathered through a desk review, interview of key informants, and the viewpoints of relevant stakeholders from ECOWAS region during a regional One Health technical meeting in Lomé, Togo in October 2019. It was found that political commitment at regional meetings and the countries adoption of regional frameworks were key strengths of the R-OHCM, although there are continued challenges with commitment, sustainability, and variability of awareness about One Health approach. ECOWAS formulated regional strategic documents and operationalized the One Health secretariat for strengthening coordination. The R-OHCM has technical working groups however, there is need for engagement of more specialized workforce and a harmonized reporting structure. Furthermore, inadequate focus on operational research, and weak national OHCM are identified as main gaps. Finally, the support of technical and financial partners will help to address the lack of funding which limits the implementation of the R-OHCM. West Africa has demonstrated profound effort in adopting the One Health approach at regional level but is presently deterred by challenges such as limited skilled One Health workforce, especially in the animal and environmental health sectors, and access to quality of One Health surveillance.

AB - Based on recommendations from two consultative meetings held in Dakar, Senegal (2016) and Abuja, Nigeria (2017) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) implemented a Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism (R-OHCM). This study analyzed the process, challenges and gaps in operationalizing the R-OHCM in West Africa. We utilized a scoping review to assess five dimensions of the operation of an R-OHCM based on political commitment, institutional structure, management and coordination capacity, joint planning and implementation, as well as technical and financial resources. Information was gathered through a desk review, interview of key informants, and the viewpoints of relevant stakeholders from ECOWAS region during a regional One Health technical meeting in Lomé, Togo in October 2019. It was found that political commitment at regional meetings and the countries adoption of regional frameworks were key strengths of the R-OHCM, although there are continued challenges with commitment, sustainability, and variability of awareness about One Health approach. ECOWAS formulated regional strategic documents and operationalized the One Health secretariat for strengthening coordination. The R-OHCM has technical working groups however, there is need for engagement of more specialized workforce and a harmonized reporting structure. Furthermore, inadequate focus on operational research, and weak national OHCM are identified as main gaps. Finally, the support of technical and financial partners will help to address the lack of funding which limits the implementation of the R-OHCM. West Africa has demonstrated profound effort in adopting the One Health approach at regional level but is presently deterred by challenges such as limited skilled One Health workforce, especially in the animal and environmental health sectors, and access to quality of One Health surveillance.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109837348&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291

DO - 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100291

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85109837348

SN - 2352-7714

VL - 13

JO - One Health

JF - One Health

M1 - 100291

ER -

Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this