LIVECOM Grant for One Health in Mekong Communities

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas. IFAD works with rural communities, governments, and other partners to invest in small-scale farmers, enabling them to produce nutritious food and improve their livelihoods. Through strategic investments, IFAD empowers rural populations to actively shape their futures, enhancing food security and economic resilience. The organization’s mission aligns with broader global goals such as sustainable development, climate resilience, and gender equity. With decades of experience in agricultural development, IFAD brings expertise in financing, research, and community engagement to promote inclusive and sustainable rural development. Its interventions focus on enhancing access to resources, building capacities, and creating scalable solutions that strengthen local economies and ecosystems. IFAD’s collaborative approach ensures that communities are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to overcome systemic challenges. Operating in over 100 countries, IFAD leverages a global network of stakeholders to ensure that development interventions are tailored to the needs of rural populations while contributing to long-term, sustainable progress. It remains a leader in transforming rural lives, driving change through partnerships and innovation.

The LIVECOM (Livestock and Communities for One Health in the Mekong) grant, supported by IFAD, aims to strengthen community-level health resilience and cooperation in Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Laos. The program promotes multi-stakeholder approaches to address complex challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. The grant focuses on disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and environmental health by mapping risks, building platforms for collaboration, and piloting local initiatives. Over two years, projects will receive up to USD 1 million in funding with an emphasis on fostering inclusive participation, particularly from women, youth, and marginalized groups. The grant encourages knowledge generation, capacity-building, and peer learning through training, workshops, and extension services. It also supports the development of investment strategies to scale effective One Health solutions. The initiative places strong importance on community engagement, ensuring local needs and insights are integral to project design and implementation. By leveraging local partnerships and expertise, LIVECOM seeks to contribute to broader goals such as climate resilience, sustainable development, and improved livelihoods while strengthening regional cooperation on public health challenges.