The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads the global response to AMR in the food and agriculture sectors. The organization’s governing body (FAO Conference) in 2015 and 2019 underscored the importance and urgency of addressing the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in all countries through a coordinated, multisectoral, One Health approach. The FAO Action Plan on AMR (2021–2025), which is in full alignment with the Global Action Plan (GAP) guides the organizations current work on AMR. FAO brings expertise in aquatic and terrestrial animal health and production, food and feed safety, genetic resources, crop production, natural resource management, risk communication and behavioural change. FAO works with key stakeholders at the country level, from national authorities to farmers, providing technical assistance to strengthen their capacities and capabilities to manage AMR risks in food and agriculture sectors and food production environments. FAO supports the development of national and regional regulatory frameworks, as well as the implementation of AMR-relevant standards, such as the standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The environment plays a role in the development, transmission and spread of AMR and it is thus key to tackling antimicrobial resistance. The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment and the governing body of UNEP. At its third session in 2017, UNEA recognized that AMR was an increasing threat and challenge to global health, food security and sustainable development in all countries and requested UNEP to support efforts by Member States to identify and characterize risks arising from anthropogenic antimicrobial resistance in the environment, and to prepare a report on the environmental impacts of AMR and the causes for the development and spread of resistance in the environment. In February 2023, UNEP released its report 'Bracing for Super Bugs' highlighting the environmental dimensions and outlining critical environmental actions to address AMR namely: enhancing environmental governance, planning and regulation; targeting priority AMR pollutants; surveillance, reporting & monitoring as well as the prioritization of financing, innovation, and capacity development. UNEP Medium-Term Strategy ‘For people and planet: the United Nations Environment Programme strategy for 2022–2025 to tackle climate change, loss of nature and pollution’, includes the work on antimicrobial resistance as part of the Chemicals and Pollution Action.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has long recognized AMR as a growing global health threat. Through several resolutions spanning decades, the World Health Assembly has called upon WHO Member States and the international community to take action against the spread of AMR. Since 1998, WHO work on AMR has been steadily scaled up, culminating in the development of the first Global Action Plan (GAP) on AMR in 2015. Based on the GAP, WHO leads the global response to AMR in the human health sector through 1) the provision of technical assistance to countries; 2) developing global public goods in key areas such as development and implementation of AMR national action plans; surveillance and monitoring; infection prevention and control; antimicrobial stewardship and awareness; and monitoring and evaluation; and 3) priority-setting and coordination of research and development. It also provides leadership and coordination of global One Health AMR governance. AMR is among one of the flagship priorities under WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work and cuts across its “triple billion targets” including water, sanitation and hygiene; infection prevention and control; universal health coverage; and emergency preparedness and response. In 2019, WHO established an AMR Division at headquarters to strengthen coordination of AMR activities across the organization.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (founded as OIE) works across borders to foster a One Health approach to global animal health. It recognises that the health of animals and the environment strongly depend on human activities. Their health determines our health, it’s everyone’s health.

Established in 1924, WOAH has a long history of working on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) since 1948. In 2015, its Member States committed to supporting the Global Action Plan on AMR and in 2016 WOAH General Assembly mandated the development of a Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials with its accompanied workplan. WOAH’s standards related to the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials are published in the Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes. The organisation also promotes the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals, as well as laboratory strengthening for effective antimicrobial susceptibility testing, collects and disseminates data on the use of antimicrobials in animals, evaluates the health and economic burden associated with AMR, and supports overall AMR surveillance activities in animals (terrestrial and aquatic animals including wildlife) and capacity development at country and regional levels.