AI Solutions for One Health approaches to epidemic and pandemic prevention and response: Scale, inclusion and impact

In every corner of the planet, disease outbreaks are increasing in both severity and frequency. Across the Global South in particular, climate change is exacerbating existing health and social inequities by increasing the vulnerability of climate "hotspots" to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and zika. Additionally, a growing number of these diseases are spreading from animals to humans due to factors such as increasing human encroachment into natural landscapes. This connection between animal, human and environmental health is known as "One Health". Data science and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are increasingly being used to identify risks, conduct predictive modeling and provide evidence-based recommendations for public health policy and action. In 2023, IDRC's AI for Global Health Initiative supported the Global South AI for Pandemic and Epidemic Preparedness and Response Network (AI4PEP). This new project will support and scale innovations that have been shown to improve public health preparedness and response to emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks, paying particular attention to underrepresented populations. It builds on the ongoing AI4PEP efforts to support responsible AI solutions to be scaled and sustained through continued collaborations with communities, researchers and policymakers. This project is part of the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) program, a five-year partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support policy, innovations and expanded leadership to spur safe and responsible AI development and use in Africa. The vision of the new partnership is to support an inclusive, responsible AI ecosystem that improves quality of life for all.