Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy: Insights from COVID-19 and Future Pandemic Preparedness
South Centre Webinar
Date: 14 April 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CEST | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM EDT | 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM IST Location: Virtual (Zoom)
In this one-hour webinar, we will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes and what lessons can strengthen future pandemic preparedness, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Advancing National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance amidst Health Financing Challenges
By Afreenish Amir
The South Centre held a webinar on advancing national action plans (NAPs) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) amidst health financial challenges, on 20 March 2025. The webinar brought together various national focal point leads for NAPs on AMR and international experts.
South Centre Capacity Building Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks in National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance
Date: 28 March 2025
Time: 4pm Geneva Time / 11am ET / 3pm GMT
This workshop will explore best practices for implementing National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance and their corresponding Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks. Country-specific updates on NAP AMR progress will be shared, followed by a panel discussion with esteemed experts who will discuss strategies for guiding M&E targets and promoting accountability in NAP implementation.
Webinar: Advancing National Action Plans on AMR amidst Health Financing Challenges
20 March 2025; 12pm Geneva time/7am ET/ 11am GMT/ 8am Brazil time/1pm South Africa time/11am Ghana time
National Action Plans (NAPS) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are developed by countries based on their own strategic priorities. Countries are at various stages of implementation of plans. However, advancing NAPs on AMR faces many challenges, particularly due to the challenges of global health funding and domestic health financing. This webinar will feature experts that will discuss selected country experiences on NAP AMR implementation and reflect on how to address the health financing challenges that hinder NAP implementation and AMR mitigation efforts. What are the financing and resource allocation approaches that can support NAP implementation in the current context?
Leveraging the Antimicrobial Resistance Declarations of 2024 to Reduce the Burden of Drug-Resistant Infections
By Afreenish Amir & Viviana Munoz Tellez
In 2024, two significant events highlighted the global concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a pressing global health issue, imperiling public health, economic stability, and societal well-being. The 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its special session on AMR and the 4th Ministerial Meeting on AMR have emphasized the need for collective action and international cooperation to mitigate the impact of AMR. The UNGA Declaration has set some targets including reducing global deaths associated with bacterial AMR by 10% by 2030 and enhancing the antimicrobial usage from the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) Access category to 70% by 2030. Accomplishing these targets requires enhancing the inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral collaboration within countries, and the development of strategies reflected in national action plans (NAPs) tailored to each country’s unique dynamics. There are several important commitments made that now need to be implemented, including increased support to countries to develop funded NAPs, the establishment of an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR, capacity building for local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and essential supplies, developing a new Global Action Plan on AMR by 2026 with a focus on a people centered approach, and advancing cross-sectoral behavioral change interventions. However, these fell short of ambition, particularly in key areas such as financing, reduction of misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human and animal health and the environment as a vector for AMR. This Policy Brief reviews the new commitments on AMR made in 2024 under the light of current challenges in developing countries and advances recommendations to accelerate progress on AMR.
Unifying Efforts against Antimicrobial Resistance: Supporting Collective Efforts During WAAW 2024
By Francesca Chiara
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health challenge, demanding urgent and coordinated efforts. During World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024, 27 impactful projects targeting more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America amplified the theme “Educate, Advocate, Act Now.” The projects were selected by the South Centre for funding, with support of the United Kingdom Fleming Fund. This is the third year this financial support is offered to selected Civil Society Organization (CSO) projects, based on a call for applications.
These initiatives directly reached over 3000 individuals through training sessions, workshops, and targeted advocacy campaigns. Many more were engaged through social media and grassroots activities. This overview highlights the transformative impact of these campaigns.
The South Centre carries out multiple activities to support developing countries with policy-oriented research, inputs and advice for negotiations and capacity building. The Report summarizes the South Centre’s activities in 2024 and highlights the contexts in which they were conducted as well as the objectives that were pursued with their implementation.
Lessons from COVID-19: Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship Prior and During Pandemics
By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a complex impact on the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While increased antibiotic misuse and disrupted antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs exacerbated AMR in some settings, heightened awareness and improved infection prevention measures implemented to control COVID-19 provided valuable lessons on sustaining these practices in the fight against AMR. This brief highlights lessons learned from the pandemic, such as the importance of access to antimicrobials and the urgent need for resilient and sustainable AMS integrated into pandemic preparedness, strengthening infection prevention and surveillance systems, enhancing access and use of diagnostics, and promoting a One Health approach. By leveraging these lessons, policymakers can build more resilient health systems, maintain the effectiveness of antimicrobials and be better prepared for future pandemics, particularly in developing countries. Immediate action is essential to protect public health and combat AMR effectively.
REPORT ON ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP AND AMRSURVEILLANCE: INSIGHTS FROM THE SOUTH CENTRE WAAW 2024 WEBINAR
By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy
How can we enhance antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in resource-limited settings?
The South Centre World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 Webinar Report highlights barriers, innovative digital tools, and global strategies to combat AMR effectively.
Submission by the South Centre to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Inputs for the comprehensive report on ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products (HRC resolution 50/13)
January 2025
The South Centre has provided input for the OHCHR report on new developments and challenges in ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products.
South Centre Supports Civil Society and Research Institutions of the Global South to Raise Awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance
The South Centre is pleased to announce its funding support for numerous civil society and research institutions in the Global South to mark World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024. This initiative has continued for six years, contributing to the global response on AMR by empowering grassroots movements and local institutions.
