Call to Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) - 2021

With the aim of strengthening One Health and multisectoral actions to tackle antimicrobial
resistance (AMR), learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to address the growing threat of AMR,
which has been referred to as a 􀍞silent tsunami􀍟􀍕 and deliver on the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, we commit to the following actions at global, regional, and national
levels:

AMR coordination, accountability, and governance

1. Keep AMR high on the political agenda, build awareness and understanding, and
    strengthen coordination, political leadership, and collaboration on AMR actions
    through a One Health approach, joining efforts of Member States, the 􀍞Tripartite
    Plus􀍟 (WHO, FAO, OIE, and UNEP), other relevant UN agencies, civil society, private
    sector, academia, and research institutions.

2. Strengthen and accelerate implementation of previous commitments to tackle AMR
    as included in the 2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on
    AMR, relevant resolutions of the governing bodies of the 􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟 and other
    organisations, and AMR national action plans.

3. Support effective implementation, as appropriate to national circumstances, of the
    recommendations of the Inter Agency Coordination Group on AMR (IACG) to be led
    by Member States with the assistance of the Tripartite Joint Secretariat and UNEP
    through a defined process involving the One Health Global Leaders Group on AMR,
    relevant UN agencies, and other key stakeholders in a comprehensive and
    collaborative approach.

4. Actively engage with the Tripartite Joint Secretariat and One Health Global Leaders
    Group, welcoming the ongoing efforts to establish the Independent Panel on
    Evidence for Action Against AMR and the AMR partnership platform.

5. Support the strategic role and work of the One Health Global Leaders Group on AMR
    in further enhancing global collaboration to tackle the growing threat of AMR.

AMR at country level and the SDGs

6. Address the growing global threat of AMR in all countries through a coordinated,
    multisectoral, inclusive One Health approach to contribute to the achievement of the
    2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, universal health coverage, and
    strengthening of health systems and future pandemic prevention and preparedness.'

7. Encourage all Member States to have a multisectoral AMR national action plan, in
    line with One Health, that is fully funded, implemented, and evaluated through
    multisectoral coordination contributed to by appropriate focal points from human
    health, animal health, the environment, and food production including through
    engagement with academia, civil society, philanthropic organizations, and the private
    sector.

8. Maintain and strengthen appropriate stewardship of antimicrobials, including in
    COVID-19 patients, to avoid inappropriate use that may exacerbate AMR; in that
    regard, maintain routine immunisation and effectively address the issues of equitable
    vaccine distribution to help prevent infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and in
    turn the urgent threat of AMR.

9. Engage in initiatives led by relevant international organisations to track and mitigate
    AMR at the country, regional, and global levels, including global AMR surveillance
    systems, annual country self-assessment surveys and guidance on effective
    stewardship of antimicrobials.

10. Make tackling AMR an integral part of programmes addressing pandemic
    preparedness, health systems strengthening, universal health coverage, the
    environment, patient safety, infection prevention and control, promotion of
    sustainable food systems, food safety and food security, and include AMR in countryled
    UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, and UN funds and
    programmes􀍛 strategic plans and countr􀇇 programme documents, based on national
    priorities, and country-led Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of SDG
    implementation, supporting effective reporting against the SDG3 indicator on AMR
    adopted by the UN Statistical Commission, March 2020.

11. Strengthen effective and integrated AMR surveillance systems, addressing AMR in
    infection prevention and control, stewardship, monitoring, regulatory frameworks,
    enforcement; promote integrated target setting and share best practice, scientific
    knowledge and technical assistance between countries and regions, upon their
    request.

AMR financing

12. Work towards sufficient and sustainable funding for AMR-specific and AMR-sensitive
    actions across One Health, including as part of Covid-19 recovery plans and achieving
    universal health coverage including at country level, the 􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟
    organisations, and other relevant UN and multilateral organisations, including the
    AMR Multi Partner Trust Fund.

13. Support integrating AMR into the UN Financing for Development (FFD) agenda,
    including through greater capacity building, for greater One Health and multisectoral
    coherence and impact, and duly take into account the issue of AMR in development
    investments.

14. Develop global and national economic studies, as appropriate, that account for
    addressing AMR across One Health, incentivising and prioritising investment needs.

15. Develop and sustain strong partnerships with the relevant private sector, investors,
    central and development banks, academia, and research institutions to tackle AMR
    including by incentivising AMR financing, research and development, innovation and
    equitable access.

AMR next steps

16. Continue to enhance national and global efforts to tackle AMR, and implement the
    2015 Global Action Plan on AMR, 2016 UN political declaration on AMR, AMR
    national action plans, and other commitments and initiatives in cooperation with the
    􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟, relevant UN agencies, the Global Leaders Group on AMR, and other
    relevant key stakeholders through a comprehensive and collaborative approach.

17. Develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated global advocacy and
    communications strategy to tackle AMR, led by the 􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟 and supported by
    One Health global coordination structures, including the Global Leaders Group on
    AMR, involving all relevant key partners.

18. Ensure a strong and relevant AMR focus as part of the work for the UN food systems
    summit in 2021, UN high-level meeting on universal health coverage in 2023, and
    other activities related to the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs, and the 2021 UN
    Climate Change Conference (COP26).

19. Evaluate implementation of these commitments on tackling AMR through ongoing
    work of the 􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟, existing governance mechanisms of the 􀍞Tripartite Plus􀍟
    organisations, and sharing of best practice, challenges, and opportunities including in
    the informal Group of Friends on Tackling AMR in New York.