Launch of the “Research to policy” technical working group under the one health partnership

2025-07-25 14:22:11

On July 28, 2025, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with CIRAD and other national and international partners, convened the inaugural meeting of the Technical Working Group on “Research to Policy” (R2P) under the One Health Partnership Framework for Viet Nam (OHP Viet Nam).

The event brought together representatives from various ministries and agencies (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, research institutes, provincial Departments of Agriculture and Health), development partners (FAO, EU, UNDP, IUCN, CIRAD, FHI360, OCRU...), associations (Viet Nam Veterinary Association, VAWA...), and the private sector.

Linking Science and Policy for a Sustainable One Health Future

In his opening remarks, Mr. Vũ Thanh Liêm – Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Head of the OHP Secretariat – emphasized:

“In the context of ministerial restructuring and declining international resources, the establishment of the R2P Working Group is a strategic step to bridge scientific research with policy formulation and implementation, ensuring that policies are grounded in science and aligned with reality.”

Co-chairing the meeting, Mr. François Roger – CIRAD Regional Director for Mainland Southeast Asia – reaffirmed CIRAD’s commitment to providing technical and financial support over the next five years through initiatives such as ASEACA and PREZODE.

In-depth Discussion on the Science–Policy Interface (SPI)

Presentations from FAO, CIRAD, and ASEACA, along with an interactive Mentimeter session, provided key insights:

The SPI is defined as a space for linking evidence, policy, and societal realities.
“Knowledge brokers” play a vital role in facilitating two-way dialogue between scientists and policymakers.
SPI principles proposed by FAO include transparency, fairness, continuous learning, and relevance.
The 4-step SPI model includes: Scoping – Design – Operationalization – Monitoring and Adaptation.

International Cooperation and a Five-Year Vision

The workshop recognized lessons from the ASEACA program – a regional initiative led by CIRAD and funded by AFD – which has been implemented in Viet Nam and the Philippines to enable effective local-level One Health interventions.

At the conclusion of the event, the Working Group agreed on the following strategic directions for the next five years:

Develop a 5-year action plan based on six core SPI functions (coordination, evidence, dialogue, participation, capacity, assessment);
Build a platform for data sharing and co-develop a list of priority research topics;
Expand international cooperation and elevate the role of communities and the private sector in One Health policymaking.

About the R2P Working Group

The “Research to Policy” Technical Working Group is an intersectoral initiative designed to promote the use of scientific evidence in shaping policies related to human, animal, and environmental health under the One Health approach. It contributes to addressing critical challenges such as disease emergence, ecosystem degradation, and antimicrobial resistance.

📩 Contact information:
OHP Secretariat – Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Coordinator: Ms. Vũ Thị Phượng – +84 904 24 07 83

Research to Policy