Value-added transdisciplinary One Health research and problem solving

The health of humans and animals is strongly influenced by nature and socio-cultural variables resulting from co-existence between humans and animals. By including natural, social and humanities scientists with an interdisciplinary approach from the beginning in research planning, these socio-cultural influences are adequately considered. In our One Health projects, we establish and maintain research partnerships with local institutes and universities in developing and transition countries. Developing health care cannot be limited to the academic field but must include local communities and authorities in co-production of implementation knowledge. Although many participants in such processes have no formal training, they are experts who bring experiential local knowledge often hidden from purely academic approaches. Using repeated participatory stakeholder meetings, effective and sustainable health care in a highly targeted manner can be implemented to address priorities of populations in an acceptable way that is feasible for the authorities.