ReAct 2026: Six focus areas

2025-12-15

As 2025 draws to an end, ReAct celebrates 20 years of action, policy influence, and community mobilization in the work against antibiotic resistance. Looking ahead, 2026 is positioned as a pivotal year to translate political commitments- secured in 2024 and maintained through 2025 - into concrete action and sustained resources on the ground, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The year ahead opens up for further action to transform political promises into measurable impact across governance & financing, advancing National Action Plan implementation and equitable access to antibiotics.

Road to 2026. Empty road with written 2026 and arrow pointing towards the horizon. — Road to 2026. Photo: Shutterstock.

ReAct looks back on a dynamic year advancing our goal of ensuring sustainable and equitable access to effective antibiotics for all. Marking ReActs 20th anniversary, we released new reports, including “Two decades of empowering communities” and “Unlocking AMR Financing”, hosted webinars and events across our nodes, and intensified our communication across channels and in meetings on the urgent need for action on antibiotic resistance.

For 20 years, across four continents, ReAct staff have worked tirelessly to deliver results: supporting countries revise and prioritize their national Action Plans on AMR, convening and mobilizing decision makers in different regions where we work, mobilizing youth and grass-root engagement, and shaping policy debates on issues such as governance, financing and access to antibiotics. ReAct is grateful to all its partners and look forward to strengthening existing collaborations and building new ones in the year ahead.

ReAct 20 years page.

2026 and onward

ReAct’s 2026 agenda is centered around continued engagement on our three strategic priorities:

reinforcing global and national governance and financing towards mitigating AMR,
advancing bold One Health National Action Plans and community-driven action,
and ensuring innovation and access remain grounded in public health needs.

Community and civil society mobilization is essential for strong and sustainable action on antibiotic resistance in addition to mobilization of other key stakeholders such as intergovernmental organizations. To achieve the strategic objectives, ReAct identifies this mobilization as a core driver and foundational way of working.

The upcoming year carries a plan for action that is based on both urgency and opportunity and we enter it with a shared purpose, and strong commitment.

Six ReAct 2026 focus areas

List of the six focus areas for ReAct in 2026. — Six focus areas for ReAct in 2026. Graphics: Therese Holm, ReAct.

For 2026, we highlight six key areas of work, each representing a critical pathway to turning political momentum and wider AMR engagement into measurable results.

1. The Road to Abuja and a new era of governance for stronger action on antibiotic resistance

The 5th Global High-level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Abuja, Nigeria promises to be a landmark moment for global action on antibiotic resistance in 2026. It is the stage where national commitments meet global accountability – and where momentum can be translated into meaningful, lasting impact.

Building on our 2024 global campaign ahead of the UNGLA HLM AMR “From People to Leaders: Act on AMR NOW!” – we will help amplify the voices and priorities of communities while engaging decision-makers directly – and channel community-driven priorities into the decision-making processes leading up to the Ministerial meeting, through multiple activities.

This initiative seeks to place financing and inclusive governance at the heart of AMR strategies, ensuring that promises are turned into action that benefits people on the ground.

Strengthening regional and national action

Next year ReAct will host two annual conferences, one in Zambia and one in Indonesia. We will also engage in the high-level conference in Brazil – hosted by Ministery of Health Brazil – this together with our new partner IDEC (Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor). These conferences will gather key stakeholders across each region making our impact global.

At the national level, ReAct will continue to strengthen AMR governance and One Health NAP implementation such as India. By connecting political leadership with technical expertise, ReAct will help align priorities and drive coordinated, evidence-based action across national and state levels, supporting measurable improvements for communities.

Global Governance System on AMR

On the global stage, ReAct will continue tracking the evolution of the global governance system on AMR. This includes the rollout of the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action against AMR (IPEA), supporting its independence while promoting a strong and credible link between evidence and political action.
Together, these initiatives reflect a year of opportunity: turning political momentum into durable systems, effective financing, and inclusive leadership – ensuring that communities and AMR champions are empowered to shape national and global action.

2. Putting communities at the heart of One Health and AMR

Effective and lasting One Health AMR implementation follows a simple principle: real change only endures when it is rooted in communities. ReAct remains committed to ensuring that people and communities are at the center of every initiative, empowering them to take an active role in shaping AMR strategies.

By working hand-in-hand with local stakeholders, civil society, and health workers, ReAct helps build solutions that are relevant, sustainable, and owned by those they are designed to benefit. This approach ensures that interventions are not just implemented, but embraced – creating lasting impact across regions and sectors.

Expanding Empowered Communities

In Latin America, ReAct will strengthen and expand the Empowered Communities initiative by creating new spaces for dialogue with governments and elevating civil society expertise in nutrition, education, and AMR governance. These partnerships deepen community ownership and ensure that national strategies benefit from the knowledge and insights of those closest to the challenges.

Community-driven action in India

In India, ReAct will co-design community-driven action plans together with civil society organizations, primary care staff, and local health workers, scaling the Antibiotic Smart Community model. This work aims to build practical, locally relevant approaches that empower communities to lead AMR solutions and ensure long-term sustainability.

AMR National Action Plan implementation

Especially in the African region, ReAct will continue to support countries with National Action Plan implementation using the One Health approach. The focus will be on strengthening governance structures at national and sub-national levels, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention control programs and promoting multi-stakeholder engagement as key for successful interventions.

3. Strengthening youth leadership across the ReAct Network

Youth leadership remains a core pillar of ReAct’s global mission. Across our network, we are nurturing a new generation of scientific thinkers, policy advocates, and community communicators – young people who are ready to reshape how societies understand and respond to antibiotic resistance.

Youth leaders in the African Region

In Africa, ReAct will expand the AMR Leaders Program and its One Health Clubs, creating dynamic youth-led learning spaces, creative platforms, and engagement models that blend evidence, culture, and local experience. These efforts aim to build confident young leaders who can drive context-specific One Health action in their communities.

Leadership Programs in Asia and Latin America

In Asia and Latin America, we empower youth communities through AMR leadership programs, campus-based clubs, community partnerships, and artistic expression such as the Regional Taskforce for Youth Engagement and Young Art for Life. These platforms give young people the tools and networks they need to take meaningful action on AMR.

Creative approaches that inspire action

ReAct empowers youth to lead change in ways that resonate – through art, music, storytelling, digital engagement, or grassroots mobilization. By linking AMR awareness to broader realities such as climate, environmental health, and everyday wellbeing, young people help build more coherent, connected, and empowered communities. This shared approach strengthens the global AMR movement with vision, integrity, and momentum.

4. Empowering learning and responsible use

ReAct continues to place education and behavior change at the center of global efforts to curb antibiotic resistance. By strengthening knowledge, shifting practices, and supporting those who shape daily health decisions, we help build the foundations for long-term, responsible antibiotic use.

Strengthening stewardship in hospitals

In India, ReAct is advancing antibiotic stewardship in private hospitals by adapting proven stewardship models and deploying a clinician-focused decision-support chatbot that encourages timely, evidence-based prescribing. These tools make stewardship practical, accessible, and sustainable in busy clinical settings.
In Africa, ReAct is piloting the Antimicrobial Stewardship through Innovation, Research, and Education (ASPIRE) framework in Zambia and Kenya, introducing a systems-level approach to optimizing antimicrobial use. ASPIRE integrates evidence-based clinical stewardship interventions with behavioral science methodologies and AI-supported decisions and analytics to enhance decision-making and improve antimicrobial utilization patterns.

Expanding global education pathways

Globally, ReAct is widening its education portfolio – from the Alforja Educativa toolkit in Latin America to the Maarifa Kids program in Africa – while supporting curriculum reviews and promoting broader use of the ReAct Toolbox. These initiatives help embed AMR knowledge early, consistently, and across disciplines.

Together, these efforts equip clinicians, students, and communities to become informed stewards of antibiotics and drivers of healthier societies.

5. Supporting countries in conflict, crises and fragility

Armed conflict and other crises often accelerates the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Although context specific, conflicts often lead to weakened health systems, lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and disruption to health commodities. d ReAct will expand its work in conflict and fragility areas in 2026.

Currently ReAct is working with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and local partners, in strengthening Infection Prevention and Control capacity, with a strong focus on empowering nurses and other health care workers who play a critical frontline role in patient safety.

At the same time, ReAct is expanding ABR awareness through student groups and curriculum integration, ensuring that the next generation of health professionals is equipped with the knowledge needed to respond to rising resistance.

These combined efforts help the Ukrainian health system manage AMR under extreme pressure while supporting the country’s One Health National Action Plan and long-term resilience.

6. Innovation that puts public health first

Across the globe, gaps in access, supply failures, fragmented markets, and weak stewardship continue to shape how antibiotics are used across the world. In 2026, ReAct’s strategy focuses on solutions that innovate responsibly and deliver tangible, equitable outcomes for communities worldwide.

Policy analysis in Europe

In Europe, ReAct will conduct policy analysis of ongoing initiatives in the field of Access to antibiotics, while advocating for new approaches that drive long-term, systemic change. The goal is to ensure that sustainable and equitable access to antibiotics is embedded from the very start of research and development.

Case studies and action in Asia Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, ReAct is generating detailed case studies on access barriers – from procurement systems to affordability – to build the evidence base guiding donor priorities and preparations for the 2029 UN General Assembly. This coordinated work supports a unified, public-health-driven vision for antibiotic access and stewardship, helping ensure that innovation truly serves the needs of people and communities.

Data generation

Through enhanced stewardship programs and the strategic use of digital tools, ReAct Africa will support health facilities in generating reliable consumption data that informs procurement decisions, reduces stockouts, and minimizes wastage.

Into 2026: A 20-year-young network committed to action

For 20 years, ReAct has been building a global movement grounded in evidence, solidarity, and persistent advocacy – for stronger action on antibiotic resistance. As we step into 2026, we see opportunities for deeper institutional change, stronger communities, and more equitable health systems.

With shared determination across all regions, ReAct is ready to turn commitments into action that protects lives, strengthens health systems, and empowers communities worldwide. Together, we continue to advance a future where antibiotic resistance is met with coordinated, effective, and sustainable solutions. For a world free from untreatable infections.

Learn more how you can support us to work towards our vision – a world free from untreatable infections.