Principles and applications of One Health: Training of Somali academic and government professionals

Mumin, F.I., Mor, S., Hared, Y.A. and Mohamed, S.A. 2025. Principles and applications of One Health: Training of Somali academic and government professionals. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

Somalia faces a complex and interconnected set of challenges at the human-animal-environment interface, including the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), environmental degradation, and persistent food insecurity. These challenges are especially acute in pastoralist and agropastoralist regions, where communities rely heavily on livestock and natural ecosystems for survival. However, despite the increasing urgency of these issues, Somalia still has limited structured One Health (OH) education and formal mechanisms for cross-sectoral collaboration. To address these gaps, a five-day training workshop titled “Principles and Applications of One Health” was conducted in Borama and Mogadishu, Somalia. The training was implemented under the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) project, with Amoud University the Somalia multiplier institution in partnership with Somali National University. The training content was based on Module 1 of the HEAL Project (One Health for Humans, Environment, Animals, and Livelihoods). The facilitation team included Professor Siobhan Mor (Chair of One Health, University of Liverpool; jointly appointed Principal Scientist, ILRI) and Farah Isse Mumin (PhD Fellow, University of Liverpool; Graduate Fellow, ILRI).

The training aimed to build foundational understanding and practical skills across five key areas: 1) One Health principles; 2) systems thinking in One Health; 3) data-driven decision-making (DDDM) in One Health; 4) multisectoral collaboration; and 5) coordination and participatory community engagement in One Health. The curriculum used participatory and experiential learning methods such as group exercises, scenario-based role plays, systems mapping, case studies, and video reflections. The sessions were contextualized to Somali realities and delivered in English and Somali to ensure inclusivity.

A total of 51 professionals from academia and key government ministries participated. Self-assessment surveys conducted before and after the training showed measurable gains in all five knowledge areas. Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the quality, delivery, and practical relevance of the content, particularly valuing sessions on DDDM, community engagement, and systems thinking. Qualitative feedback emphasized the importance of more field-based learning, greater contextualization, and extended training duration.

Notably, participants appreciated the interactive nature of the sessions and cross-sectoral team engagement. Many expressed readiness to apply their learning in ministry planning, research, education, and community outreach activities. The training concluded with a call to continue building One Health capacity through institutional collaboration, curriculum integration, and community centered approaches.