International Conference on One Health and Water (OHW-2025) Held in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — September 16, 2025 – The Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) at Addis Ababa University, in collaboration with the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)-Ethiopia Chapter, successfully hosted the International Conference on One Health and Water (OHW-2025): Safeguarding Human, Animals, and the Environment on September 15–16, 2025, at Capital Hotel, Addis Ababa.
The event brought together over 100 participants, including experts, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from Ethiopia and abroad. Attendees engaged in discussions exploring the critical interconnections between water, health, and the environment, aiming to develop sustainable solutions for a healthier planet.
In his Welcoming Address, Professor Feleke Zewge, Director of ACEWM and National Coordinator for the NORHED II Project on the One Health Approach, emphasized the importance of addressing health challenges through a holistic One Health approach.
Water plays a crucial role as a key connector between the three components of One Health. Water scarcity, water pollution, and inadequate water management have profound impacts on the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Climate change, population growth, and unsustainable production all aggravate this challenge,” Prof. Feleke remarked.
He also acknowledged the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) through the NORHED II Programme, which established a multi-disciplinary consortium including UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), Norwegian Institute of Bio economy Research (NIBIO), Addis Ababa University (AAU), and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST). The project has developed innovative MSc and PhD programs on One Health, setting a model for other countries in the region.
Dr. Fikiru Regassa, State Minister at the FDRE Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock System Transformation, and Dr. Feyesa Regassa, Chair of the National One Health Secretariat, delivered keynote addresses. Both speakers highlighted the national importance of One Health initiatives and commended the conference for fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
During the two-day event, more than 40 research works were presented through oral and poster sessions. Presentations were organized under key themes: Environment and One Health, Water and One Health, Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and One Health, Zoonotic Diseases and Public Awareness in One Health.
A panel discussion on “Urbanization and One Health” provided an engaging platform for experts to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges posed by rapid urbanization and its implications for human, animal, and environmental health.
The OHW-2025 Conference concluded with a shared commitment among participants to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration, build research capacity, and promote innovative solutions for water and health management in Ethiopia and beyond.