Our health depends on the health of
our planet
Governance
The governance structure of Nature for Health consists of five main bodies:
Consortium Partners
Nature for Health’s Consortium Partners are made up of leading environmental and health organisations who are prominent in the One Health space. Each Partner brings an extensive experience and a range of relevant and unique expertise which they will apply to the strengthening of the environmental aspects of preventative One Health. They also bring a strong commitment towards ensuring the long term success and impact of the N4H initiative.
-
BMUV (also known as the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection) is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany with branches in Bonn and in Berlin. BMUV has been working for over 30 years to protect the public from environmental toxins and radiation, promote the wise and efficient use of raw materials, advance climate action and to ensure that natural resources are used in a way that protects the diversity of animal and plant species and preserves their habitats.
-
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), based in Montreal, Canada, was established to support the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity which was signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The SCBD’s principal functions are to to assist governments in the implementation of the CBD and its programmes of work, prepare for, and service, meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) and other subsidiary bodies of the Convention, and to coordinate with relevant international bodies.
-
As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. The organisation helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.
-
The UN Environment Programme is the leading international authority that sets the global environmental agenda, and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the UN system. The UN Environment Programme works on delivering transformational change for people and nature by drilling down on the root causes of the three planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
-
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is an intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide and fighting infectious animal diseases. Together with its 182 Member states, WOAH coordinates the global response to animal health emergencies, the prevention of zoonotic diseases, the promotion of animal health and welfare, and better access to animal health care. WOAH is headquartered in Paris, with regional and sub-regional offices worldwide.
-
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is responsible for promoting international public health, preventing disease, and improving the overall well-being of people around the world. The WHO works with governments, NGOs, and other partners to provide leadership on critical health issues, develop health policies and guidelines, and coordinate responses to global health emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland with six regional offices and 150 field offices.
-
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. By harnessing the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of some 15,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. IUCN is headquartered in Switzerland and has offices in more than 50 countries worldwide.
-
EcoHealth Alliance is a US-based non-governmental organisation dedicated to a 'One Health' approach by protecting the health of people, animals and the environment from emerging infectious diseases. As an environmental science and public health leader, EcoHealth Alliance works with local governments, in-country scientists and researchers, as well as policymakers around the world to prevent pandemics and promote conservation in hotspot regions worldwide.
Steering Committee
The N4H Steering Committee is composed of one senior-level representative from each of the Consortium Partner organisations. In coordination with the N4H Secretariat, the Committee is responsible for guiding and overseeing the development and strategic direction of the N4H initiative. This includes guidance on N4H strategic and programmatic priorities, taking into account the recommendations from N4H Technical Advisory Group, as well as the approval of resource allocations.
-
UNDP
Mandeep Dhaliwal is the Director of UNDP’s HIV and Health Group. She joined UNDP in 2008 as the Cluster Leader: Human Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversities in the HIV/AIDS Group. Mandeep is a physician and lawyer by training with over 20 years of experience working on HIV, health, human rights and evidence-based policy and programming in low- and middle-income countries. She was the architect and lead for the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, convened by UNDP on behalf of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.
-
EcoHealth Alliance
William B. Karesh is the Executive Vice President for Health and Policy at EcoHealth Alliance. He also serves as the president of the World Animal Health Organization (WOAH) Working Group on Wildlife Diseases and chairs the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Wildlife Health Specialist Group, a network of wildlife and health experts around the world. A trained veterinarian, William pioneers initiatives that focus attention and resources on solving problems created by the interactions among wildlife, people and animals.
-
Secretariat for the CBD
Jihyun Lee is the Director of Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division at the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity.
-
WHO
Maria Neira is WHO’s Assistant Director-General for the Division of Healthier Populations. She leads the Organisation’s efforts to achieve one billion more people enjoying better health and well-being through interventions relating to the environmental, social, and economic determinants of health through a One Health approach. Maria has served as Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health (formerly Public Health and Environment) since 2005. She is a medical doctor by training who is specialised in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases.
-
IUCN
Ali Raza Rizvi is the Head of Climate Change at IUCN’s Centre for Economy and Finance in Washington DC. Ali has over 25 years of leadership and management experience in the conservation and development sectors with expertise that covers coastal zone management, disaster risk reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods, climate adaptation and nature-based solutions. His work spans across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas where he has helped development and humanitarian agencies on their rehabilitation, livelihoods, and adaptation initiatives.
-
UN Environment Programme
Doreen Robinson is a conservation ecologist by training with over twenty five years of experience. She is the Head of the Biodiversity and Land Branch at the UN Environment Programme where she oversees a global portfolio of programmes supporting biodiversity conservation and wildlife, land management, nature positive food systems, and economics of ecosystem services. She holds a MSc degree from the University of Maryland and a BSc from Cornell University.
-
BMUV
Elke Steinmetz is a dedicated “restorationist”. She is a geographer by education, and has spent her career working for NGOs, the science sector and government. For more than ten years she served as a political advisor at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and now holds the position of Head of Division for International Cooperation on Biodiversity.
-
WOAH
Chadia Wannous is the One Health Global Coordinator for the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) supporting One Health initiatives, including on emerging and remerging and endemic zoonotic diseases, AMR, food safety and integrating the environment into the One Health approach. Chadia is a public health professional with a PhD in International Health and Development from Tulane University in the US with extensive training and experience in health emergencies prevention, preparedness and response at the animal, human and environment interfaces.
Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is composed of international-level global One Health experts and practitioners from different sectors and diverse disciplines. The role of the TAG is to support and advise the N4H Steering Committee by providing technical inputs on the development, implementation and monitoring of the N4H initiative. It will also ensure an independent and expert voice in its operations. TAG members complement the Steering Committee by applying their technical knowledge and expertise across different subject areas - from epidemiology, wildlife and ecosystem health to public health, policy and governance. The TAG does not have any formal decision-making authority.
-
Mali, Africa
Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine is currently a principal investigator for a unique research project called “Ărramăt” that is looking at ways to strengthen health and wellbeing through indigenous-led conservation and sustainable relationships with biodiversity. Mariam is a Tuareg (Indigenous) woman from Mali. She was formerly a president of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and has held several related positions in advocacy of the global health of Indigenous Peoples.
-
France, Europe
Franck Berthe is a One Health practitioner at the World Bank working on public health issues across the agriculture, environment, water and public health sectors. He provides advice and technical assistance to a large portfolio of investments that aim to reduce risks at the human, animal and ecosystem interface across various countries and regions.
-
Nicaragua, Central America
Mirna Kay Cunningham Kain is a medical practitioner specialised in public health and specifically on the development of intercultural health processes which incorporate the health knowledge and practices of Indigenous Peoples. She has experience in indigenous peoples' rights and also in promoting intercultural health policies at the local, regional and global levels.
-
Bangladesh, Pakistan
A veterinarian trained in tropical veterinary medicine, animal virology and molecular biology and the founding Vice Chancellor of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Nitish led the establishment of the civil society platform "One Health Bangladesh" in 2008 and since its inception, he has worked as National Coordinator of One Health Bangladesh. He is also appointed as a member of the High-Level Expert Panel for One Health (OHHLEP).
-
France, Europe
Serge Morand has a strong track record, with accompanying field experience, working in the biodiversity and health sphere. He is an epidemiologist with specific expertise on the various zoonotic infectious diseases in Southeast Asia - a region threatened by biodiversity loss and emerging diseases - which are at the interface of wildlife, livestock and human health . He is appointed in several international scientific bodies, including the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP).
-
Rwanda, Africa
For 10 years, Julius Nziza was the country coordinator of the PREDICT Project, an epidemiological research programme funded by a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which focused on preventing emerging infectious diseases. He performed research on ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, has participated in One Health operationalisation in Rwanda since 2011 and is currently working on improving the health of mountain gorillas and other non-human primates in Rwanda.
-
Uganda, Africa
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is a specialist in zoological veterinary medicine. Her research at the human/wildlife/livestock interface led her to found Conservation Through Public Health, an award-winning NGO that protects endangered gorillas and other wildlife through One Health approaches. She established Uganda Wildlife Authority’s first veterinary department in 1996 and has received numerous awards for her contributions to conservation. She recently published a memoir “Walking with Gorillas: the Journey of an African Wildlife Vet" about her conservation leadership journey shaped by One Health.
-
Brazil, South America
Christina Pettan-Brewer is a One Health Fulbright USA/Latin America Scholar and Ambassador and an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Animal Health Surveillance Program of the Department of Comparative Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle USA. She has more than 30 years of experience working with international research collaborations with Latin America and leading sustainable partnerships applying One Health approaches.
-
Zimbabwe, Africa
Rumbidzai Gondo is a research consultant specialising in health policy and sustainability. She consults for an organisation aligning policy with the SDGs by assessing sustainability frameworks, developing the roadmap and metrics for environmental, social and governance legislation and tapping the circular economy. She worked with Doctor Without Borders on Covid-19, Ebola and other infectious diseases research. She is on the steering committee for the Zimbabwe Youth Biodiversity Network and the knowledge sharing committee of Africa Alpbach Network.
-
Argentina, South America
Marcela Uhart is a wildlife veterinarian with over 25 years of experience in Latin American countries. She focuses on wildlife health and biodiversity conservation, and addressing issues at the wildlife, livestock and human interface under a One Health approach. She has participated in numerous projects on emerging infectious diseases in the Amazon region.
-
Australia, Oceania
Katie Woolaston is a wildlife and conservation academic lawyer who designs and advocates for better laws and policies that enable the better governance of our interactions with biodiversity and that ensure these complex interactions are considered by decision-makers. Her governance expertise covers international wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict to human rights under COVID-19 restrictions.
UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO)
The United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office is the only UN entity dedicated to the design and administration of multi-stakeholder pooled financing instruments, supporting the launch of over 150 pooled funds across the entire humanitarian-development-peace spectrum. The N4H Multi-Partner Trust Fund will be administered by the Trust Fund Office meaning that it will be responsible for Fund design, set-up and maintenance of the Fund account, including the receipt of donor contributions and disbursement of funds.
Secretariat
The N4H Secretariat is hosted at UNEP in Nairobi and is responsible for day-to-day management including coordination, monitoring and evaluation and communications.