The Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) initiative fosters research and
innovation that facilitates seamless integration, customization, and operationalization of One Health (OH)-
focused solutions. It is spearheaded by three consortia, namely, the International Livestock Research
Institute (ILRI), Centre de coopération Internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement
(CIRAD), and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). COHESA
has 12 multipliers, including Namibia. Although Namibia does not currently have a formal OH Institute,
key stakeholders recognize the importance of this concept. A baseline key informant survey conducted
by Namibia’s project team revealed that participants acknowledged the significance of OH, particularly
considering emerging and re-emerging diseases that affect humans, animals, plants, environmental
health, and ecosystems. The cabinet’s recent approval of the Namibia Public Health Institute (NamPHI)
is expected to enhance Namibia’s responses to public health threats. The National Action Plan on Health
Security (NAPHS) of 2020 has facilitated a collaborative agreement between crucial line ministries (Ministry
of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT),
and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR)). However, the OH concept remains
fragmented in private and government sectors. While the government emphasizes regulatory compliance,
broad collaborations across sectors, and disease-centric initiatives, the private sector focuses more on
industry-specific regulations, projects, and evaluations. Efforts should be made to bridge these gaps and
foster more collaborative and coordinated approaches to address health challenges across Namibia’s
multisectoral landscape.