The Quadripartite organizations – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) – have hailed the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments at the 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah from November 14–16, 2024, the conference marked a pivotal step in global efforts to tackle AMR, a growing threat to health, food security, and the environment.
A Diverse Coalition for Action
The conference brought together ministerial delegations from across the globe, spanning agriculture, food, environment, and health sectors. Participants included policymakers, researchers, health professionals, environmentalists, youth advocates, AMR survivors, and representatives from regional and global organizations.
The Jeddah Commitments aim to translate the historic political declaration on AMR, endorsed during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024, into actionable strategies. This document builds a coalition of dedicated stakeholders to address AMR’s multidimensional challenges through unified, measurable efforts.
Key Priorities and New Initiatives
The Jeddah Commitments reaffirm the following actions outlined in the UNGA political declaration:
- Establishing an Independent Panel for Evidence on Action Against AMR by 2025, coordinated by the Quadripartite organizations in collaboration with Member States.
- Integrating the 2030 AMR goals outlined in the UNGA declaration into the next Global Action Plan on AMR.
Additionally, the Commitments introduced several innovative measures:
- AMR One Health Learning Hub: A platform based in Saudi Arabia to facilitate cross-sectoral training and capacity building.
- Regional AMR Access and Logistics Hub: Also located in Saudi Arabia, this initiative aims to enhance the distribution and accessibility of tools to combat AMR.
- Biennial Ministerial Conferences on AMR: The global summit will be formalized as a recurring event, with Nigeria confirmed as the host for the next conference in 2026.
These measures emphasize a holistic approach to combating AMR by addressing health challenges across human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors under the One Health framework.
Advancing Global Efforts
The Quadripartite organizations commended the Jeddah Commitments for reinforcing international standards and initiatives, including:
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission standards.
- FAO’s InFARM Monitoring System for tracking AMR in food systems.
- WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
- WOAH’s ANIMUSE database for monitoring antimicrobial use in animals.
Such tools are essential for translating high-level declarations into ground-level impact, ensuring that global efforts are backed by robust data and evidence-based policies.
A Unified Call for Action
In his closing remarks, Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon, highlighted the urgent need for concerted action:
“The Jeddah Commitments are a beacon of hope in the fight against AMR, reflecting the global community’s resolve to address one of the most critical health challenges of our time. Our unified efforts will safeguard ecosystems and future generations.”
The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of commitment to the World AMR Awareness Week 2024, themed “Educate. Advocate. Act Now.” Running from November 18–24, the campaign aims to amplify awareness and mobilize action worldwide.
A Path Forward
The Quadripartite organizations called on governments, researchers, industry leaders, and civil society to harness the momentum generated by the Jeddah Commitments. With AMR projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unaddressed, the time to act is now.
Through the frameworks established by the UNGA political declaration and the Jeddah Commitments, the world is better positioned to take bold steps in combating AMR. The Quadripartite pledged its continued support to Member States, driving progress in safeguarding health, food systems, and ecosystems for the future.
