NAIROBI — The International Livestock Research Institute, better known as ILRI, has been officially designated as the world’s first Collaborating Centre for One Health by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), cementing Kenya’s position as a major player in global health research.
The announcement was made during WOAH’s 92nd General Session in Paris, marking what officials described as a major step in advancing the global One Health agenda an approach that links the health of people, animals, and the environment.
“We are honoured by this recognition,” said ILRI Director General Appolinaire Djikeng. “It reaffirms our commitment to livestock research that benefits not only animals, but also people and the planet. Our goal is to help build food systems that are safe, sustainable, and resilient.”
ILRI, which is jointly hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia and operates from headquarters in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, has built a strong reputation across Africa and Asia. Its work focuses on practical solutions for managing animal diseases, improving food security, and preparing for health threats that cross from animals to humans known as zoonotic diseases.
The new status as a WOAH Collaborating Centre puts ILRI at the heart of global efforts to better understand and manage those threats. WOAH Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran called the partnership timely and vital.
“ILRI’s work speaks directly to the core of what One Health is about,” said Soubeyran. “It’s not just about research it’s about turning science into action, and shaping policies that protect animal and human health, trade, and food security.”
Focus on Prevention, Policy, and Climate
As part of its new role, ILRI will take the lead on research and policy engagement in several key areas:
- Disease surveillance and early warning systems, particularly for emerging diseases that affect both animals and humans.
- Biosecurity and supply chain safety to reduce the spread of animal diseases.
- Climate-smart strategies to manage the growing impact of climate change on livestock health.
- Socio-economic studies to help governments and agencies make informed decisions.
ILRI’s approach has long been rooted in partnerships — with universities, governments, local communities, and now with WOAH. “By working with others across Africa and Asia, we aim to scale up what works,” Djikeng said. “We want to offer real solutions that meet the moment from pandemic prevention to climate resilience.”
The decision comes at a time when the world is still reckoning with the aftershocks of COVID-19, a zoonotic virus. Global health agencies are increasingly focused on prevention, especially in low- and middle-income countries where outbreaks can begin unnoticed and spread quickly.
From Research to Real-World Impact
Experts say the collaboration offers a clear path from lab-based research to on-the-ground results.
“This isn’t just a win for Kenya,” said a senior health policy official in attendance who requested anonymity. “It’s a boost for Africa’s voice in global health and proof that world-class science is happening right here.”
ILRI’s work will now help shape international standards on animal health influencing everything from trade rules to emergency response plans.
With 14 offices across Africa and Asia and decades of research behind it, ILRI’s new role is not just symbolic. It signals a deeper shift towards more inclusive and regionally anchored global health leadership a shift driven by science, grounded in experience, and urgently needed.
