Meeting the 2030 Target on Reducing the Global Burden of AMR: Pathways for Strengthening and Leveraging Surveillance in Developing Countries
By Prateek Sharma and Viviana Munoz Tellez
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a major and growing threat to global health, yet low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant challenges in implementing AMR surveillance –collection and analysis of data on AMR. Global AMR targets, including the United Nations’ goal of reducing AMR-associated deaths by 10 percent by 2030 and achieving diagnostic capacity in 80 percent of countries, rely on surveillance data that are often incomplete, hospital-centered, and unrepresentative of community infections in LMICs. While the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) of the World Health Organization (WHO) provides a standardized framework, in LMICs limited access to diagnostics, high laboratory costs, and reliance on data from specialized hospitals constrain participation and data comparability. Modeling studies have helped quantify the global burden of AMR, yet their reliance on sparse LMIC data underscores the need for improved primary surveillance. Achieving the United Nations’ 2030 target—where 80 per cent of countries can test resistance in all GLASS pathogens—will require substantial investment, technical support, and sustained political commitment. Embedding AMR surveillance within health systems and strengthening pandemic prevention and preparedness can help unlock external funding for eligible LMICs through the Pandemic Fund and the Global Fund.
Hosted by the South Centre, 5 March 2026, Virtual (Zoom)
On 5 March 2026, the South Centre convened a virtual webinar to mark the conclusion of its seven-year antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programme, supported by the Fleming Fund, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), United Kingdom (UK) since 2018. The main objective of the webinar was to present the findings of an Impact Assessment of the programme and to gather reflections from key partners on lessons learned and the way forward. The South Centre emphasised that the end of the Fleming Fund grant marks a transition, not a closure as the organisation remains committed to AMR as a core area of work and is actively seeking new partnerships.
The webinar was opened by Prof. Carlos Correa, Executive Director of the South Centre, and moderated throughout by Dr Viviana Munoz Tellez, Head of the Health, Intellectual Property and Biodiversity programme of the South Centre. Eleven speakers from multilateral institutions, the UK Fleming Fund, government delegations, academics, civil society, and the media shared perspectives and calls to action.
South Centre and One Health Trust Information Note
March 2026
92 million deaths could be averted by 2050 with improved access to antibiotics and infection care. The time to act is now, and it requires both access and stewardship.
Together with One Health Trust, we highlight key recommendations to make it happen in a pointed brief.
* Available in 3 languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish)
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 2025 and highlights the contexts in which they were conducted as well as the objectives that were pursued with their implementation.
The South Centre successful in elevating Global South voices in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, with support from United Kingdom’s Fleming Fund
Geneva | 5 March 2026
As the world intensifies efforts to confront antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the gravest global health and development threats of our time, the South Centre has supported low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to strengthen their positions in global governance and policy processes.
A newly released impact report documents how the South Centre, with support from the United Kingdom’s Fleming Fund, has played a catalytic role between 2018 and 2025 in systematically improving Global South engagement in AMR governance, policy discourse, and civil society – led action.
The webinar will present key findings from the South Centre’s Antimicrobial Resistance impact report, Elevating Global South Voices in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance: The South Centre’s Impact and Lessons Learned (2018–2025), implemented with the support of the Fleming Fund (UK Department of Health and Social Care).
The discussion will be framed within the evolving global AMR landscape, particularly following the 2024 UN Political Declaration on AMR, and will reflect on how to sustain and scale Global South – led engagement in multilateral processes.
South Centre Supports Civil Society and Research Institutions in the Global South to Raise Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025
by Viviana Munoz Tellez, Ningxiner Li
The South Centre supported multiple civil society institutions across the Global South to implement targeted awareness raising campaigns on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and commemorate the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, with funding provided by the United Kingdom Fleming Fund. The selection of campaigns was prioritized based on the quality of the proposals and their implementation in South Centre Member Countries.
Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against Antimicrobial Resistance (IPEA): Reflections on the Foundational Documents
By Dr. Viviana Munoz Tellez
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) invited the Quadripartite Organizations to establish an Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against Antimicrobial Resistance (IPEA) in 2025. The launch of the IPEA is planned for 10 December 2025 during the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The Quadripartite organizations (the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)) released in November 2025 updated draft documents for the IPEA for additional consultation with Member States and stakeholders. The IPEA will constitute a welcome addition to global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) governance, and should be established, starting small and building gradually. Several concerns on the proposed model remain concerning the governance structure, equity in participation, and the independence of the panel. This policy brief provides analysis and recommendations on key issues concerning the draft foundational documents for the IPEA requiring attention.
Participation of South Centre Member Countries in the WHO GLASS: Progress and Gaps in AMR Surveillance and Stewardship Efforts
By Dr. Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy
This study highlights antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance challenges in LMICs, focusing on the 55 South Centre Member States’ enrolment in the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS). Despite progress since its 2016 launch, significant gaps persist: only 60 percent of South Centre Member States report AMR surveillance to GLASS, and just 38 percent report antimicrobial use (AMU) data to GLASS. The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted surveillance activities, with rates declining from 2020-2021 compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Digital infrastructure, such as mobile reporting tools, cloud-based systems, and interactive dashboards, offers significant opportunities to strengthen AMR surveillance in resource-limited settings. The study recommends a holistic and phased approach for South Centre Member States, including developing integrated national AMR action plans with realistic implementation timelines, investing in laboratory and workforce development, establishing interoperable digital infrastructure, and strengthening regional collaboration mechanisms. By systematically addressing core surveillance challenges while strategically incorporating digital innovations where appropriate, countries can develop resilient monitoring systems that support effective stewardship, protect national populations, and contribute to global health security by preserving antimicrobial effectiveness for future generations.
Implementing Evidence-based Antimicrobial Prescribing to Combat AMR and Strengthen Global Stewardship – The GUIDE Framework in Action
Monday, 17 November 2025, 12:00-13:00 CET/11:00-12:00 UK/06:00-7:00 EDT/15:30-16:30 IST
Join us for the launch of a new evidence-based tool to enhance antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship. Share your feedback to help us strengthen its value and usability for global practice.
