Who should break the silos in One Health for global health security? an African perspective

The One Health (OH) approach underscores the vital links between human, animal, and environmental health, advocating for collaborative strategies to strengthen global health security (GHS). However, disciplinary and institutional silos hinder the implementation of OH, particularly in Africa, where zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and food insecurity have acute health impacts. This paper explores the question of "who should break the silos in One Health practice", examining Africa's potential to drive GHS through a multisectoral governing OH strategy through a unified lens, with a focus on dismantling the silos. We discuss the roles of key stakeholders: governments, regional organizations, academia, and civil society, in leading cross-sectoral collaborations and building resilient, integrated health systems. Strengthening governance and fostering coordinated action across sectors are critical to realizing OH goals that not only protect Africa and the world at large but also contribute to global health resilience. An integrated governance model, with shared leadership and robust operational frameworks, is proposed as essential for advancing OH and securing health at all levels. Breaking silos in OH is not only vital for Africa's health security but is also central to global pandemic preparedness and response (PPR), particularly as the Pandemic Agreement now recognizes OH as a foundational pillar of its framework.