N4H aims to support low-and middle-income countries to reduce the risk and impact of future zoonotic epidemics and pandemics emanating from environmental degradation, climate change, land use changes, biodiversity loss, animal husbandry and wildlife trade and consumption.

Through an initial contribution of EUR 50 million from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) via Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), N4H Partners work in 18 countries and regions where biodiversity is under threat and there are substantial risks of zoonotic disease spillover. N4H takes a phased approach over 8-year period, with six jurisdictions for each phase.

N4H had received more than 60 applications from around 50 jurisdictions in response to the Expression of Interest (EOI) launched in August 2022. The six countries – Ecuador, Ghana, Mongolia, Rwanda, Vietnam and Zambia – have been selected for the first phase of N4H work, who will receive the technical support of N4H Partners to implement preventative measures.

Based on an improved understanding of the links between biodiversity, climate and health, the N4H initiative will support the collaborative development of locally relevant and cross-sectorally integrated policies and actions, which will help strengthen effective and lasting multi-sectoral governance structures which will contribute to preventing future pandemics.