Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Research Paper 223, 22 July 2025

Community Based Surveillance for AMR Monitoring: Significance, Requirements and Feasibility in LMICS

By Afreenish Amir

Community based surveillance, in addition to clinical antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, plays an essential role in AMR and antimicrobial use trend monitoring. Various community-based AMR surveillance studies to monitor trends in AMR and use of antimicrobials have been conducted and shown its potential to facilitate evidence-based interventions and policy making for control of AMR.  Many low and middle income countries (LMICs) lack the necessary systems and resources to establish effective surveillance systems. Specifically, the surveillance capacity at hospitals and other health facilities is limited, and the overall human resource capacity for community-level data collection, analysis, and multi-sectoral coordination is severely constrained. Prior to planning for community based AMR surveillance, a country should have established mechanisms to run the system efficiently, including strong governance and regulations, surveillance infrastructure, laboratory capacities, skilled human resources, data collection and management, funding and sustainability.

The World Health Organization and quadripartite partners have recommended advancing community based AMR surveillance in LMICs, and integrated AMR surveillance combining information from humans, animals and ecosystems, which seems a challenge in the current situation. Considering the significant gaps in systems, resources, and capacities, it is important to prioritize strengthening the country’s core capacities and addressing the underlying gaps in healthcare systems. Efforts should focus on enhancing the country’s core capacities, systems, and technical requirements while exploring the potential of advancing selective community based AMR surveillance interventions and systems in the future.

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SC Webinar Report on Gender Intersectionality in AMR, July 2025

Gender Intersectionality in Antimicrobial Resistance 

Webinar Report

The South Centre held a webinar on Gender Intersectionality in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), on 14 May 2025, with the participation of experts from academia, independent research institutions and international organizations. The webinar was attended by over 70 participants from around the world, demonstrating interest in gaining greater understanding of the gender dimension in effective strategies for tackling antimicrobial resistance 

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Research Paper 222, 16 July 2025

Designing an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance: Lessons from Selected Bodies in Global Health, Climate Change and Biodiversity

By Viviana Munoz Tellez and Francesca Chiara

This paper proposes a framework for designing an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (IPEA), responding to the 2025 United Nations General Assembly mandate. Through a comparative analysis of selected international scientific advisory bodies, we identify the panel’s mandate as the foundational element that will critically shape its composition, scope, deliverables, and governance structure. Our framework addresses key domains of credibility, scientific integrity, authority, policy relevance, and sustainability while establishing equity as a fundamental design principle—not merely ensuring low and middle-income country (LMIC) participation but designing the IPEA to address existing imbalances in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) evidence production and dissemination. We analyse potential mandate options, from evidence synthesis to policy recommendations, highlighting the importance of defining a unique and complementary role for IPEA within the existing AMR governance landscape to avoid duplication and maximize impact on global AMR response. 

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44th FAO Conference Side Event, 2 July 2025

Implementing the 2024 AMR Political Declaration: Industry Accountability and Equity in Agrifood Sector Transformation

High-Level Dialogue on AMR, with the support of South Centre

2 July 2025, 12:30 – 16:00 CEST

FAO Headquarters (Rome), Iran Room (B-116 bis)

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SC Technical Report on AMS Post-COVID-19, 26 June 2025

Policy in Practice: Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Post-COVID-19

Q&A and Commentary

By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy

This report summarises the key questions and expert commentary for the South Centre, as well as the South Centre Policy Brief on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and provide practical recommendations discussed during the South Centre webinar on “Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship: Policy Insights from COVID-19 and Future Pandemic Preparedness.”

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10th Regional AMR Conference, 11-12 June 2025

ReAct Africa-South Centre Annual Conference 2025:

From global to local action: Operationalising AMR commitments in Africa and beyond

11-12 June 2025

Lusaka, Zambia

The ReAct Africa-South Centre Annual Conference 2025 aims to translate these global and regional commitments into actionable strategies for local and national contexts in low- and middle-income countries; with a specific focus on Africa’s needs and priorities. It will serve as a platform for key stakeholders from, but not limited to governments at the regional, national and sub-national levels

A great variety of stakeholders will join the conference in Lusaka: International & regional organizations (Quadripartite organs – FAO, WHO, WOAH & UNEP; Africa CDC, ECSA-HC, etc.), public health professionals and health practitioners, civil society and community organizations, academia and research institutions, youth in AMR, faith sector, private sector leaders and innovators, media and communication experts.

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SC Statement to WHA78 Agenda Item 15 – AMR, 27 May 2025

Statement by the South Centre to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

Agenda Item 15: Antimicrobial Resistance

27 May 2025

The South Centre strongly encourages member States and the Director General to maintain antimicrobial resistance as a WHO priority, with adequate resources in headquarters and regional offices, and increased coherence as a cross cutting issue across various WHO programmes …

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SC Webinar Report – AMS, COVID-19 & Pandemic Preparedness, May 2025

Webinar Report:

Advancing Antimicrobial Stewardship Policies: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Priorities for Future Health Emergencies

By Dr Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy

Our recent South Centre webinar examined how the pandemic created a dual challenge for global health:

– MISUSE: 35-75% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics despite low bacterial co-infection rates.

– ACCESS BARRIERS: The pandemic disrupted supply chains and healthcare access, limiting antimicrobial availability in many regions.

This paradox—overuse alongside access challenges—must inform future pandemic preparedness.

Our experts call for:

– Integrating antimicrobial stewardship into emergency response

– AMS frameworks must be established BEFORE health emergencies

– Strengthening surveillance systems and diagnostic capacity

– Ensuring sustainable and equitable access to antimicrobials

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South Centre AMR Webinar, 14 May 2025

Gender Intersectionality in Antimicrobial Resistance

Date & Time: 14 May 2025, 4PM CET Geneva time / 10AM EST / 2PM GMT

Key Discussion Points:

  • The intersectionality of gender with other social determinants (e.g. socioeconomic status, education, occupation) in shaping AMR vulnerabilities and outcomes.
  • How gender influences antibiotic use, access to healthcare, and infection prevention and control practices?
  • Strategies for integrating gender-sensitive approaches into AMR policies, programs, and research

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Vacancy Announcement

Vacancy Announcement:

Consultant / Antimicrobial Resistance

The South Centre is seeking to fill a consultancy position to support its activities in the  area of tackling antimicrobial resistance in developing countries.

The Consultant will be engaged on a full or part-time basis by the South Centre under a Special Service Agreement (SSA) for a period of 6 months.

The place of assignment is Geneva, Switzerland, or from a remote location. 

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SC Webinar on AMS & COVID-19, 14 April 2025

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).

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SC Report – AMR NAPs & Health Financing, April 2025

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.

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