Operationalizing the One Health approach at the intersection of research and development: a study protocol for the ELUZO project in Senegal and Burkina Faso

Abstract

Small-scale livestock farming remains central to food security and income-generation in several low and middle countries (LMIC), but it can also be an important source of zoonoses in areas where access to water and sanitation is poor. The role played by women in this sector is often overlooked. ELUZO is an international, intersectoral, and multidisciplinary One Health project that aims to reduce the impact of zoonotic diseases and empower women in rural communities in Senegal and Burkina Faso. The project adopts a women-centered approach, integrating development and research using a Theory of Change (ToC) framework to combine measurement tools that meet Global Affairs Canada's requirements with scientific rigour. As part of the study protocol, we co-designed tools to collect baseline data using mixed methods to generate a comprehensive picture of the human, animal and environmental health concerns in each participating community. The baseline findings were then used to guide selection and design of interventions. The decision-making process of the project is carried out collaboratively with community members, ensuring local realities and needs are reflected. The final stage of the project will be implementation and assessment of the effectiveness of the community interventions. Additionally, the team will provide training sessions on One Health and gender equity. This paper describes the study protocol developed to guide the ELUZO project. The protocol includes the governance structure, objectives and methods used to design a gender-sensitive, community-driven and multisectoral One Health intervention project to reduce the impacts of zoonotic disease in low-resource settings.