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As geopolitical instability and environmental shifts create an increasingly complex global landscape, the compounding nature of modern crises demands a renewed commitment to cross-border solidarity, particularly within the women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH), where fragmented responses are no longer sufficient to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The One Health Summit, held in Lyon, France 6-7 April 2026, was a strategic opportunity to bring together, Heads of State and Government from around the world, Heads of International and Regional Organizations, parliamentarians, representatives of the scientific and academic community, the private sector, civil society, local authorities and youth to accelerate the implementation of the One Health approach.
Convened by the Republic of France as part of the 2026 G7 presidency, the summit operated under four key principles, highlighting the importance of science-based research and innovation, the promotion of multilateralism and partnership, the need for strong public-private collaboration, and the inclusive participation of civil society, communities and young people.
The high-level panel session, also marking the 78th World Health Day, ushered in a new era of multilateral partnership, emphasizing that political commitment and science-based decision-making are the primary engines for unlocking resources and saving lives. The session culminated in a powerful call to dismantle traditional silos through a One Health lens. As WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros articulated, “protecting humans, animals, and the environment is not just one option, but the only approach to global security”.
Operationalising One Health through MNCH
The partner session "Philanthropies for One Health, One Health for Children," hosted by the Paris Peace Forum, explored how philanthropic collaboration can address the interconnected health threats facing our planet and highlighted maternal, newborn, and child health as a critical entry point for global action.
By bringing together experts from key PMNCH partners including like Agence Française de Développement, Gates Foundation, Save the Children, Aga Khan Foundation, and Unitaid, the event highlighted how the health of mothers and their children are shaped by communities, and their environment and dependent upon strengthened and resilient health systems. By highlighting both the challenges but also the tools for improving MNCH, the event closed on a resounding note from Justin Vaisse, Executive Director of the Paris Peace Forum, “If One Health is about systems, then MNCH is where those systems can deliver the most immediate impact.”
Civil Society as key partners for the future of One Health
Civil society plays a crucial and transformative role within the One Health agenda, including by placing emphasis on community-based and led action, sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable populations including women, children and adolescents.
PMNCH is delighted to be a co-signatory of the position paper, Civil Society at the Heart of One Sustainable Health, A Call to Action, published as part of the One Health Summit, highlighting the importance of these collaborative partnerships and the important role of evidence-based advocacy in moving towards solutions, particularly for marginalised communities and populations.
The Summit’s civil society session championed the integration of Indigenous and local knowledge with scientific expertise to create a more equitable and effective One Health framework. By empowering community-based organizations, including women's and youth networks, to shape policy and monitor investments, we are able to better translate high-level international commitments into tangible, culturally sensitive action that safeguards human, animal, and environmental health for all.
Financing One Health as a strategic priority
The changing geopolitical and fiscal environment are driving the need for enhanced country and regional-led approaches to financing health, particularly for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health, including in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Through three high-level panel discussions, leaders from regions, governments and public development banks discussed investment priorities structured within a One Health approach. Emphasizing domestic resource mobilization as the cornerstone of health sovereignty panellists also highlighted the potential of innovative finance mechanisms to bridge funding gaps. By aligning climate adaptation strategies with WCAH priorities, countries can unlock integrated investments that protect the most vulnerable populations while building long-term systemic resilience.
Young Leaders and claiming their space within the One Health Agenda
Youth leadership is the vital link between local action and global policy. By convening diverse experts and innovators from across five continents, the Summit Session “One Planet, One Health: Youth taking Action” shifted from youth participation to youth-led actions. Through high-level roundtables, these young outlined the necessity of embedding youth perspectives into the core of global health governance, ensuring that climate and health resilience strategies are designed by those who will navigate their long-term impacts.