A new research brief from the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) highlights the urgent need for transformative policy responses to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Africa. Drawing on insights from Kenya’s experience, the brief identifies major implementation challenges, including limited surveillance, weak coordination, and lack of sustainable funding, and proposes system-level solutions rooted in the One Health approach, integrating human, animal and agricultural health.
AMR is already a global health threat, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2019, with Africa recording the highest mortality rate. Without action, AMR could kill over 4 million Africans annually by 2050, undermining progress on Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Kenya’s National Action Plan on AMR (2017–2022) introduced key reforms, such as multisectoral coordination, education campaigns, and strengthened Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). Yet significant gaps remain, particularly in data collection, public engagement, and integration across health sectors.
The brief calls for bold reforms that go beyond technical fixes, recommending investments in surveillance infrastructure, stronger governance, and inclusive policymaking frameworks that empower local actors. The authors argue that Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) offers a promising framework to design long-term, system-oriented responses to AMR.
The brief was co-authored by Dr Frank Ndakala, Deputy Director of Research at Kenya’s Ministry of Education, and Dr Chux Daniels, Senior Research Fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex and Director of the Transformative Innovation Africa Hub (TIAH).
Read the full policy brief: Transformative Policy Actions to Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa: Insights from Kenya by Dr Frank Ndakala and Dr Chux Daniels
Suggested reference: Ndakala, F. and Daniels C. (2025). Transformative Policy Actions to Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa: Insights from Kenya, TIPC Research Brief No 1