A new online course builds expertise in One Health research in francophone Africa

As public health threats intensify due to climate change, urbanization and the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental systems, there is an urgent need to inform responses with collaborative and locally grounded research. The One Health approach — which links human, animal and environmental health — has gained momentum in recent years and is increasingly being applied to complex public health challenges. Health systems in francophone West and Central Africa, however, lack methodological tools to analyze these interlinkages and there is a significant gap in resources available in French, the primary language of instruction and research in the region.  

These barriers made it difficult to apply One Health approaches effectively and to conduct implementation research — a methodology that helps bridge the gap between evidence and practice through context-sensitive, multisectoral responses to public health challenges, particularly infectious diseases. Strengthening regional capacity to study how interventions are delivered, adapted and sustained in real-world settings is essential to developing equitable and impactful health solutions. 

To address these challenges, and with support from IDRC and other partners, the first-ever French-language Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) focused on implementation research and the One Health approach was developed to strengthen regional research capacity in francophone Africa. The course was created in partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the World Health Organization’s Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. Co-designed with the Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, the MOOC draws on regional expertise and institutions across the sub-region.  

The MOOC includes six modules that address the theoretical foundation and practical application of implementation research in One Health. Topics include control of zoonotic diseases (which are diseases that naturally spread from animals to humans), environmental health and the importance of engaging stakeholders using approaches that emphasize gender equality and inclusivity. Through high-quality video lessons, real-world case studies and interactive learning tools, the MOOC empowers health professionals, program implementers and decision-makers from francophone West and Central Africa with the knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities. 

The IDRC-supported program also includes hands-on learning to foster a new generation of researchers well versed in equity-driven One Health research. Four master’s students in public health enrolled at the Université Cheikh Anta Diop are conducting implementation research to address local health needs. These students — hailing from Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso — receive academic supervision from their university and mentorship from the Université Nazi Boni in Burkina Faso.  

This initiative reflects IDRC’s commitment to strengthening capacity for implementation research by supporting early-career researchers and institutions to lead change. By combining formal training through a regionally co-created MOOC and hands-on experience through mentored fellowships, the program fosters sustainable and locally grounded solutions to complex health challenges — anchored in the expertise, language and leadership of francophone Africa. 

This learning model could inspire similar capacity-building initiatives in other low-resource, linguistically underserved regions