Professor Wanda Markotter of the University of Pretoria (UP) recently represented Africa and UP at two major forums in Berlin and Geneva, contributing scientific and policy expertise to global discussions on prevention, preparedness and health governance through her leadership on the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP).

As global health challenges become more complex and interconnected, Prof Markotter is helping to shape a coordinated international response through the One Health framework – an approach that recognises the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health.

Prof Markotter holds the Future Africa Research Chair in People, Health and Places (One Health) and is the Director of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses at UP. She also co-chairs the OHHLEP, which advises four international agencies on One Health. The Quadripartite collaboration, as it’s known, comprises the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Her work ensures that African perspectives and UP’s research expertise continue to inform and enrich the global dialogue on health governance.

Driving global cooperation through One Health

In October 2025, Prof Markotter joined global policymakers, scientists and health leaders at two major international dialogues – the World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany, and the Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction, hosted by WOAH in Geneva, Switzerland.

Both forums focused on how global systems can shift from crisis response to prevention through stronger, science-based collaboration. Reflecting on these discussions, Prof Markotter noted that the international community is increasingly united in its support for proactive, cross-sectoral action.

“The global health community is moving towards prevention rather than reaction,” she said. “While we have frameworks and commitments in place, many countries still lack coordinated strategies. Bridging these divides requires political will and sustained collaboration.”

She added that both dialogues underscored the importance of science in strengthening global security.

“Today, security depends on science,” Prof Markotter said. “No single sector or country can manage these challenges alone. Collaboration across human, animal and environmental systems is the foundation of resilience.”

Strengthening global coordination

Through her role on the OHHLEP, Prof Markotter contributes to shaping frameworks that guide global cooperation between governments, institutions and multilateral agencies. The Quadripartite collaboration on One Health, established in 2022, developed the One Health Joint Plan of Action to help countries address antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, food safety and environmental protection.

According to Prof Markotter, this plan marks an important step in translating the One Health approach into tangible national action.

“One Health is the cornerstone of global health security,” she explained. “It connects the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. Through this connection, we can prevent the next global crisis before it starts.”

Despite the progress that has been made, Prof Markotter acknowledged that implementation remains uneven. Many countries face limited resources, fragmented governance and weak surveillance systems. Strengthening political commitment, financing and institutional coordination, she said, will be key to achieving sustainable progress.

Building Africa’s capacity for collaboration

Prof Markotter emphasised the role of African universities and research platforms in advancing One Health implementation. She noted that institutions such as UP and its Future Africa Institute are key to linking research, policy and practice by generating locally relevant evidence and developing skilled practitioners.

“Universities are hubs of knowledge generation and capacity building,” she said. “They train the next generation of One Health practitioners and connect global frameworks to community-level implementation.”

Embedding African science within international policy processes, she added, ensures that global health solutions are equitable, contextually informed and globally relevant. This approach strengthens both regional resilience and global preparedness.

A call for sustained collaboration

Reflecting on World One Health Day, observed globally on 3 November, Prof Markotter reaffirmed the importance of keeping prevention, equity and collaboration at the centre of global health action.

She stressed that One Health must become a permanent feature of global governance rather than a temporary response during crises.

Long-term, coordinated collaboration across sectors is essential to prevent future pandemics and address ongoing health and environmental risks. Embedding One Health principles into national and international systems is key to building resilience and ensuring sustainable progress.