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When I took office, I saw an initiative that had already achieved something remarkable. In just five years, PREZODE has built strong momentum and a global community committed to preventing zoonotic disease emergence through a One Health approach. The initiative has successfully mobilized an international community of members, developed a robust strategic framework, and gained visibility within global One Health and pandemic-prevention discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today the challenge is to translate that momentum into measurable, sustainable impact. This means strengthening country ownership, reinforcing partnerships, demonstrating the value of our collective work, and ensuring that PREZODE remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members and the global health community. I also see this as a tremendous opportunity. With growing international recognition of prevention, PREZODE is well positioned to help translate global commitments into concrete action, bringing together science, policy and implementation to support countries in addressing health threats at their source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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One of my priorities was to listen before proposing a roadmap. I conducted a strategic needs assessment in April-May through stakeholder surveys, a documentary review, and interviews. It was therefore a collective reflection involving our members, governance bodies and founding institutions on PREZODE\u2019s future.
The road map endorsed by the Steering Committee is the result of that dialogue. It provides a shared direction for strengthening PREZODE\u2019s positioning, governance, member engagement, operational impact, communication and long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assessment reflects a collective ambition, confirming that PREZODE is entering a new phase, one focused not only on building a strong network, but on delivering tangible value for countries, partners and communities through prevention. Seven strategic priorities are recommended to strengthen PREZODE’s effectiveness, impact, and sustainability over the coming years: Develop a Comprehensive Sustainability and Resource Mobilization Strategy; Clarify PREZODE’s Positioning and Value Proposition; Strengthen Governance Effectiveness and Institutional Coordination; Accelerate Operationalization and Demonstrate Impact; Deepen Member Engagement, Country Ownership, and Regional Anchor; Strengthen Strategic Communication; Ensure long-term institutional and financial sustainability through Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning processes.I ultimately believe that if we invest in prevention and work across sectors and borders, we can fundamentally change how the world anticipates and manages health threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nOne of PREZODE\u2019s biggest challenges is bridging the gap between ambition and operational reality\u2014turning research findings into practical, evidence-based policies and sustainable interventions that can actually scale<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
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How has your experience shaped your leadership approach as PREZODE\u2019s Secretary General?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Throughout my career, I have learned that lasting change begins with trust and collaboration. Whether working at national or international level, I have seen that the most effective solutions emerge when institutions, disciplines and communities work together around a shared vision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading the development of the One Health Platform in Cameroon profoundly shaped this conviction. Bringing together the human, animal and environmental health sectors required patience, resilience and, above all, active listening. It taught me that sustainable collaboration cannot be imposed\u2014it must be built through dialogue, mutual trust and a shared commitment to common goals. Professionally, it shaped me into a facilitator who enjoys connecting people, bridging perspectives and turning complexity into collective action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My journey with PREZODE began through the AfriCam PREACTS project, where I witnessed the power of a global community working together to generate shared solutions. It also gave me a clear understanding of what makes PREZODE unique: its ability to bring together diverse expertise around a shared ambition for prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Secretary General, my role is to nurture that collective dynamic. I believe the Secretariat should not simply coordinate activities, but create the conditions for collaboration, strengthen collective ownership and help our members translate knowledge into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I see leadership as enabling collective success. PREZODE’s greatest strength lies not in its Secretariat, but in the diversity, expertise and commitment of its members. As Secretary General, I see my role as a facilitator\u2014creating the conditions for collaboration, fostering collective ownership and helping our community turn knowledge into action that benefits countries and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Looking ahead, what would success look like for PREZODE over the next few years?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Success will not be measured by the size of our network or the number of initiatives we support. It will be measured by our ability to catalyse real and lasting change\u2014helping countries strengthen prevention systems, empowering communities to become more resilient, and ensuring that scientific knowledge translates into effective policies and action where it matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My ambition is for PREZODE to become an enabling platform that supports countries in driving their own One Health priorities, fosters long-term partnerships and accelerates the transition from knowledge to implementation. Lasting prevention can only be achieved when countries and communities are empowered to lead, adapt and sustain solutions that respond to their own realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, PREZODE’s success will depend not only on the impact it generates, but on its ability to build a lasting movement for prevention\u2014one that strengthens systems, creates collective ownership and remains institutionally and financially sustainable for the years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"