Agile policies for antimicrobial resistance: A contextual approach to sustainable health challenges

This paper examines contextual conditions for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) policy implementation in Zimbabwe. As an emerging global sustainability challenge, AMR constitutes risks for human, animal and environmental health as well as the long-term viability of livestock and farming with implications for communities' economic stability and food security. The study uses participatory research workshops as a data generation method, engaging with interdisciplinary groups of students and lecturers at two universities in Zimbabwe. Utilising a combination of One Health approaches and theories of policy integration and coherence as our analytical framework, we outline the concept of agile policies, adapting policy content to contextual conditions. Results illustrate the interplay between social, economic and institutional contexts for AMR policy implementation and how especially economic pressures and social tensions represent obstacles to contextually relevant implementation. Limited resources and infrastructural support as part of monitoring and enforcement efforts related to antimicrobial use pose further challenges. This paper calls for AMR policy to be aligned with economic, agricultural and educational policies. Through such policy coherence and integration, One Health cross-sector collaborations could be developed, resulting in more policies while lessening the compliance costs for communities in implementing AMR policy in their practices.