ReAct recommendations to strengthen the Global Action Plan on AMR

2025-10-23

In the recent consultation on the draft of the Global Action Plan (GAP) ReAct gave input emphasizing the importance of equity, sustainable financing, and strengthened accountabiltiy to accelerate the global response to AMR. Find ReAct's suggestions and recommendations in the full article.

Updating the GAP-AMR

A Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR) was first adopted in 2015 by the WHO and subsequently endorsed by the other Quadripartite organizations -FAO, WOAH and later welcomed by UNEP. Laying out five strategic objectives it has served as the global framework guiding national and international efforts to address antibiotic resistance, and it has been particularly important in informing the development of National Action Plans (NAPs) in nearly all countries. Only a small share of countries have secured dedicated funding for their NAPs, highlighting the ongoing need for stronger, more sustainable mechanisms to translate commitments into action.

In 2025, the Quadripartite organizations launched a global consultation process to update the GAP-AMR, as requested by the 2024 UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on AMR. According to the Quadripartite, the update aims to reflect lessons learned, address emerging priorities, and strengthen global coordination through a more inclusive, action-oriented framework.

Stakeholders across sectors — including civil society, are contributing to shape a plan that better aligns with today’s realities. As part of this process, ReAct has shared its perspectives and recommendations through verbal and written input during consultations organised by the Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform (MSPP).

ReAct’s feedback on the updated GAP zero draft

ReAct is encouraged to see that the revised GAP is more comprehensive and that it seeks to incorporate missing elements in the previous GAP, e.g. how it addresses the environmental sector. ReAct also welcomes the much-needed increased attention to equity and equitable access to effective antibiotics in the document as well as the comprehensive capturing of One Health sectors, including wildlife as well as the introduction of governance as a strategic objective.

Eight Pillars of Action

In 2022 ReAct contributed to a briefing paper by the Antibiotic Resistance Coalition (ARC) assessing the mid-term review of the WHO GAP AMR. The briefing outlined eight pillars for action to improve some of the weaker areas of the GAP:

• accelerate progress on global governance
• enhance attention to access to antibiotics (and not just excess)
• expand the One Health approach to include environmental and food systems
• strengthen WHO’s collaboration with partners
• increase efforts to antibiotic innovation beyond industry’s roadmap
• strengthening monitoring for accountability
• ensure adequate financing of NAP implementation
• as well as embedding AMR within pandemic preparedness efforts.

With the Quadripartite’s approach to updating the GAP in 2025, most of these areas have been taken into consideration.

However, a few crucial elements remain underdeveloped or need adjustments in the zero draft.

One of the structural areas that would require further elaboration is the strategic objective 6 which covers both governance and financing. It would require substantial strengthening as the crucial commitments on financing made during the 2024 UN HLM are missing, such as the commitment to mobilize catalytic funding for the Multi-Partner Trust Fund, as well as mapping existing and catalytic funding sources. These commitments will be critical since mobilizing the necessary resources are required to actually implement other objectives of the GAP.

Making the GAP practical and effective

Furthermore, in relation to the Governance objective, ReAct proposed that the GAP explicitly address the need for establishing well-resourced AMR Coordinating bodies in all member states, ensuring their primary role is to steer AMR work rather than treating it as a secondary function.

Another structural area needing strengthening is Accountability and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). ReAct emphasized that the 2019 M&E framework for the GAP must be updated in parallel with the new plan. The revised framework needs to move beyond mere output indicators and introduce essential impact indicators that provide broad guidance covering the full One Health spectrum, while also allowing for adaptation to countries’ specific local contexts.

Following the open consultation, the Quadripartite will continue the process with consultations with member states across sectors at regional and global levels. The updated GAP-AMR is scheduled to be endorsed at the UN Environment Assembly in December 2027 and launched thereafter.