Strengthening One Health Capacity in Africa: GWAC Delivers the One Health Modular Certificate Course 2026

Kumasi, Ghana | 14–19 September 2026

The German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), hosted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), successfully delivered the One Health Modular Certificate Course 2026 from 14 to 19 September 2026 in Kumasi, Ghana.

The six-day intensive course brought together participants from diverse professional backgrounds to strengthen their understanding of the One Health approach and its application to health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. Designed for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, the course provided an interdisciplinary learning platform for participants working across public health, veterinary medicine, environmental health, agriculture, and wildlife-related fields.

Advancing an integrated approach to health

The course addressed the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health, emphasising the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in preventing and responding to emerging and re-emerging health threats. Key themes included the drivers of pandemics, wildlife habitat encroachment, environmental change, and the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans.

Participants also explored the foundations of resilient health systems, including effective governance, sustainable financing, human resource capacity, access to essential medicines and technologies, reliable health information, and responsive health service delivery.

Through this multidisciplinary approach, the course aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to apply One Health principles to real-world challenges in African contexts and similar settings.

Building capacity through education and collaboration

The One Health Modular Certificate Course reflects G-WAC’s commitment to capacity development, interdisciplinary research, and collaboration in addressing pressing global health challenges. By bringing together professionals from different disciplines, the course supported knowledge exchange and encouraged a more coordinated approach to health and ecosystem protection.

The programme was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), with funding from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. Scholarships were made available to selected applicants from across Africa, helping to broaden access to specialised One Health training.

The course also contributes to G-WAC’s wider mission of strengthening research and training capacities in Africa and fostering sustainable partnerships between African and German institutions.

Looking ahead

As health threats increasingly transcend disciplinary and national boundaries, strengthening One Health competencies remains essential to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The successful delivery of the 2026 course represents an important contribution to developing the interdisciplinary expertise and collaborative networks needed to address these challenges.

G-WAC extends its appreciation to the participants, facilitators, institutional partners, and supporting organisations whose contributions made the course possible.