---
title: "Tanzania district health, veterinary, environmental officials lack One Health collaboration in Mwanza and Kilimanjaro; district-level One Health largely unimplemented and limited awareness"
sdDatePublished: "2026-09-03T12:26:00Z"
source: "https://www.vetinst.no/en/news/when-health-is-at-risk-bridging-the-gap-between-national-plans-and-local-practice-in-tanzania"
topics:
  - name: "public health"
    identifier: "medtop:20001358"
  - name: "veterinary medicine"
    identifier: "medtop:20000714"
  - name: "environmental pollution"
    identifier: "medtop:20000424"
locations:
  - "Kilimanjaro"
  - "Mwanza"
  - "Tanzania"
---


Tanzania district health, veterinary, environmental officials lack One Health collaboration in Mwanza and Kilimanjaro; district-level One Health largely unimplemented and limited awareness

When Health Is at Risk: Bridging the Gap Between National Plans and Local Practice in Tanzania

When Health Is at Risk: Bridging the Gap Between National Plans and Local Practice in Tanzania

A new study shows that despite strong national One Health initiatives in Tanzania, collaboration between the health, animal, and environmental sectors remains weak at the local level. At the same time, the study highlights ways to strengthen coordination and improve implementation.

The One Health approach is based on the understanding that human, animal, and environmental health are closely interconnected. For example, antibiotic use in livestock production can contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans. Environmental pollution can also spread resistant bacteria. Rather than addressing these challenges separately, authorities are encouraged to coordinate efforts across sectors to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Many countries, including Tanzania, have formally adopted this approach. Tanzania is often regarded as a regional leader, with several national strategies and action plans that explicitly promote One Health in the fight against AMR. On paper, the country appears highly committed. But how is One Health actually being implemented at the local level?

A New Tool for Assessing Collaboration

To answer this question, researchers developed a new tool called the One Health Rapid Qualitative Assessment (OH-RQA). Rather than measuring health outcomes, the tool examines whether One Health principles are integrated into everyday governance and management practices.

The assessment focuses on five key dimensions:

Thinking, planning, working, sharing, and learning.

The tool was applied in the Tanzanian regions of Mwanza and Kilimanjaro through workshops and interviews with district-level staff working in human health, veterinary services, and environmental management.

Limited Awareness of the Concept

The findings were striking. Despite Tanzania's strong national commitment, One Health was only partially visible at the district level. Many local officials had limited knowledge of the concept. Some had never heard of One Health before the workshop, while others knew the national strategy documents but had not engaged with them in depth.

Cross-sector collaboration did occur, but mainly in response to emergencies such as rabies outbreaks. Most of the time, departments operated in isolation, focusing primarily on their own responsibilities.

Environmental authorities were particularly marginalised and often reported that neither AMR nor One Health appeared in their job descriptions. Training opportunities were limited and typically consisted of one-off events rather than long-term capacity-building programs.

The Problem Lies in the System

The study suggests that challenges in implementing One Health are less a question of willingness and more a consequence of institutional structures. While national policies may encourage collaboration, performance indicators and funding mechanisms continue to reward sector-specific activities.

This creates a gap between national ambitions and local implementation. Strengthening One Health requires more than national plans. It calls for clear mandates, regular cross-sector meetings, targeted training, and incentives for collaboration. If One Health is to realise its full potential in the fight against AMR, the most important work must happen where policy meets practice: on the front lines of local governance and administration.

Read the publication: One Health Rapid Qualitative Assessment: Exploring Local Governance Gaps in Tanzania (ScienceDirect).

Read more about the project: INIKA OH TZ