On December 10-11, 2024, the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR (QJS), comprising representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), convened in Geneva to discuss and plan implementation of key elements of the 2024 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in accordance with General Assembly resolution 78/269.
In the Political Declaration, Member States recognized the role of the QJS and mandated formalization of the Secretariat as the central coordinating mechanism to support the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Consequently, Member States tasked the Quadripartite organizations with action in several critical areas, including strengthening global governance for a coordinated, multisectoral response to AMR, exploring adequate and sustainable financing for the response, strengthening evidence for action, and monitoring and following up on the commitments. The Political Declaration has three key, high-priority requests directed at the Quadripartite organizations and the QJS, which they are planning to implement.
1. Financing for the AMR response
Recognizing that the global response to AMR remains underfunded, increased and sustainable financing was identified as a top priority with an aspirational target of US$ 100 million reflected in the UNGA political declaration and the request to support the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund, including its replenishment and expansion of the donor base. The QJS will begin planning for a proposed Resource Partners’ Investment Roundtable event for the AMR MPTF in the first half of 2025. This event aims to increase contributions to and expand the donor base of the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund, which supports implementation of multisectoral AMR national action plans and global activities and governance, including the work on AMR of the Quadripartite partnership. This effort will be led by the QJS.
2. Updating the 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR
The Quadripartite organizations are committed to updating the Global Action Plan (GAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which was originally launched in 2015 by the WHO in line with the UNGA political declaration. Beginning in January 2025, the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat (QJS) will initiate this process by planning and mobilizing additional technical capacity, as well as conducting an internal review and gap analysis of the existing GAP document. This analysis will identify necessary technical updates from both sector-specific and cross-sectoral perspectives, utilizing a multisectoral, One Health approach.
The GAP update will not only follow a phased approach but will also incorporate an iterative process to ensure inclusivity and integrate inputs from all stakeholders. Drafts will be made available for comment at various stages through a robust consultation process. Member States will be engaged through the governing bodies of the Quadripartite organizations, while key stakeholders will participate via the AMR Multistakeholder Partnership Platform (MSPP).
The Quadripartite aims to complete the updated GAP on AMR by the end of 2026, as mandated by the political declaration.
3. Establishing an Independent Panel for Evidence for Action against AMR
In consultation with Member States, the Quadripartite organizations are advancing plans to establish an Independent Panel for Evidence for Action (IPEA) against AMR. As outlined in the Political Declaration, the key priority for the panel will be to facilitate the generation and use of multisectoral, scientific evidence to support Member States in their efforts to address AMR.
In early 2025, the QJS will lead efforts towards the panel’s establishment following an open and transparent process. This will be informed by a landscape analysis of similar existing models in global development. Further insights will be gathered through an information session with members of the Global Leaders Group on AMR in late January 2025. A consultation process with stakeholders and UN Member States will follow to develop a model for the IPEA, including its terms of reference and operational structure. The MSPP will provide an inclusive forum for stakeholder consultations. The Quadripartite aims to launch the panel within the 4th quarter of 2025 as mandated by the political declaration.
Looking ahead: Strengthening the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform
To further strengthen global governance and cross-sectoral coordination and to ensure quality and inclusiveness of stakeholder consultations the Quadripartite organizations explored strategies to expand and strengthen the MSPP and enhance its role as an effective platform for coordination, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement in the global AMR response.
The QJS also agreed to develop a detailed, costed, multi-year work plan outlining the contributions of the four organizations and funding gaps towards realizing the successful implementation of the Political Declaration. Efforts to mobilize funding from partners to enable the QJS to timely implement these commitments are currently ongoing,
The Quadripartite organizations remain committed to delivering on the mandates outlined in the 2024 Political Declaration on AMR. Through strengthened partnerships, sustainable financing, and evidence-driven action, the organizations will continue to work together to support Member States in addressing the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
For more updates on the Quadripartite collaboration on AMR, visit qjsamr.org.