Policy Research
The AMR Policy Accelerator brings together experts across the social and health sciences, to provide interdisciplinary One Health perspectives on AMR policy issues and actionable insights on complex AMR challenges. Policy research, policy findings, and knowledge products are widely shared to support evidence-informed decision-making.
Central to the Accelerator’s approach is its dedication to equity-driven research. From its onset, the Accelerator has undertaken research on access to antibiotics for displaced communities, the gendered aspects of AMR policy, and aligning action on AMR and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Featured Projects
Designing a scientific panel on AMR
A well-designed scientific panel with a clear mandate could play a vital role in global AMR governance by providing evidence-informed recommendations to promote equitable AMR interventions.
Developing Gender-responsive National Action Plans
While gender plays an important role in a person’s risk of exposure and vulnerability to drug-resistant infections, few national action plans (NAPs) on AMR include gender considerations.
Gender-Inclusive Frameworks for Research
Incorporating gender analysis in AMR research is crucial for identifying opportunities to develop gender responsive programs and policies. Our conceptual framework aims to enhance gender inclusivity in AMR research within livestock systems.
Projects in Progress
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health and development threat with far-reaching consequences. If not urgently addressed, AMR will impede progress on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas of global health, food safety and security, economic growth, poverty alleviation, and the environment This research will identify policy intervention opportunities that create joint accelerated progress on AMR goals and the SDGs.
Effectively responding to AMR at the national level requires countries to coordinate across the human, animal, environment, and agricultural sectors to implement their national action plans. Currently, there is little practical guidance available on how to structure national multi-sectoral AMR coordination committees. This research looks at the evidence to identify key institutional design considerations for structuring multisectoral AMR governance and achieving effective coordination.
Globally, two thirds of all antimicrobials used are consumed by livestock production systems. This widespread use of antimicrobials in livestock has implications for the environment, food safety and the economy. Policies targeting indiscriminate use of antimicrobials are essential to maintaining the effectiveness of antimicrobials and preserving the security of our food systems.
This research will map potential policy pathways and interventions to promote the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in animal production systems. In parallel with this research, a systematic review is being conducted to identify existing policies implemented by governments worldwide to address antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance (review protocol: https://osf.io/56pzg). This complementary project aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current policy frameworks, offering valuable insights that will inform and enhance the development of targeted interventions for responsible antimicrobial use in animal production systems.
Government policies play a critical role in addressing antimicrobial use and AMR in human and animal health. This research involves a systematic reviews of government-implemented policies to address AMR, updating a prior review to reflect recent developments. These reviews will map existing policy interventions, evaluate their scope and effectiveness, and identify gaps in current approaches. By synthesizing evidence, this work will provide actionable insights to support the development of robust, evidence-informed strategies for managing AMR in healthcare and livestock systems globally.