EAC Policies Influencing One Health and Sustainable Green Development: Scoping Review and Framework

Abstract

This The East African Community (EAC) has adopted policies that influence the integration of the One Health Approach and Sustainable Green Development. This study aims to develop a framework that describes several policies through which the One Health approach influences sustainable green development within the EAC region. We carried out a scoping review to identify policies using the One Health and Sustainable Green Development (OHSGD) terms (n = 14) published and implemented prior to December 20, 2024, that discusses One Health and Sustainable Green Development aspects across all the 8 member states of EAC. We used the qualitative constant comparative technique to inductively code descriptions and examples of the One Health approach aspects within these policies, arrange the aspects into descriptive domains, and generate an overreaching framework. The resulting One Health Approach influence on sustainable green development across EAC countries identifies four areas of the One Health Approach that can influence sustainable green development in EAC. These areas are grouped into four influence categories: (1) integrated health and environmental management, (2) climate change mitigation and adaption, (3) sustainable agriculture practices, and (4) strengthening multisectoral collaboration. We propose a framework that positions these categories according to their relevance to sustainable green development outcomes and highlights two critical focus areas for assessing the impact of the One Health Approach in EAC: (1) government and policy-driven interventions to health and environmental outcomes and (2) the extent to which these interventions address equity and sustainability concerns across diverse population groups.