Incorporating gender and climate perspectives in research to curb antimicrobial resistance

Through IDRC, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as part of its Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF) will support the International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) to fund scoping and research projects focused on climate change, as well as gender and equity, within antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With funding from DHSC (USD1.8 million/CAD2.5 million) and ICARS (USD500,000/CAD700,000), the project will run from June 2024 to December 2026.

Climate change and social inequities, including gender disparities, have documented impacts that exacerbate antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the burden of drug resistance is already highest. However, there is a global gap in solution-oriented research to understand how to include gender, equity and climate perspectives in AMR mitigation. To help address this gap, ICARS will collaborate with IDRC across two different technical streams, one focusing on gender and equity and the other on climate change.

“IDRC has been investing in antimicrobial resistance research, in partnership with the DHSC since 2019. The researchers we are supporting in LMICs are working to find solutions to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and to develop life-saving innovations,” said Federico Burone, IDRC’s acting vice president for programs and partnerships. “We are delighted to pursue our collaboration with institutions such as ICARS to advance knowledge, and boost innovative alternatives to commonly used antibiotics," he added.

Bridging research gaps and expanding existing knowledge

As world leaders come together to set actionable targets in AMR mitigation in 2024, it is imperative to address the often-overlooked factors accelerating the spread of drug-resistant pathogens.

Over the next three years, ICARS will incorporate a gender and equity lens, as well as a climate lens, in intervention and implementation research projects, building on its collaboration with IDRC. The project aims to:

• pilot the Practical Pathways Document on gender and equity in four projects and present this work on international stages
• develop hot-spot maps for climate change, antimicrobial use and AMR
• develop resource materials on collaboratively addressing AMR and climate change in livestock and aquaculture systems

The evidence generated from these activities will inform future and existing policies in developing relevant, sustainable and targeted solutions to the ever-increasing threat of AMR.

"Addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and health inequities within the context of AMR is crucial, particularly for low- and middle-income countries which bear the brunt of these issues,” said Professor Dame Sally Davies, the United Kingdom’s special envoy for AMR. “This exciting partnership between ICARS, IDRC and GAMRIF is a significant step forward in bridging the critical research gaps in integrating gender, equity, and climate perspectives into AMR solutions."

For his part, Sujith J Chandy, executive director of ICARS said: "Among the many issues facing the world today, gender, equity and climate change are three requiring 'on the ground' research to understand their relationships with AMR and how such knowledge can help tailor cost-effective solutions to tackle AMR. It is my earnest hope that these grants provide a great opportunity towards furthering such research and thereby positively impact lives, especially in resource constrained regions." 

Stream 1: AMR, gender and equity

Gender and equity, and more broadly health and social equity, is a long-recognized priority within the health and development agenda. However, research is still lagging when it comes to intersecting social factors and how they contribute towards exposure and experiences with drug-resistant infections. For example, gender and equity play a role in exposure to AMR-related risks in health care and food-producing animal settings due to the tasks and activities associated with traditional women's roles — including food preparation, livestock and aquaculture management, and caregiving. That can lead to increased exposure to treatment-resistant pathogens and can worsen experiences of disease and overall drug-resistance.

The objectives of this stream are to integrate a gender and equity lens into AMR innovation, including existing ICARS intervention and implementation research projects, and to document and communicate the research learnings externally to inform future projects and studies in the field. 

“There is a notable global absence for practical on-the-ground examples of AMR research that integrate gender and equity considerations, which hinders our ability to adopt best practices in intervention implementation,” said Erica Westwood, senior science advisor at ICARS. ”This project will help to address that critical gap,” she noted.

Stream 2: AMR and climate change

Research on the impacts of climate change on AMR in agrifood systems is scarce. Climate change threatens the health of animals and humans, in addition to impacting the health of our planet. Changes in climatic and environmental conditions are projected to increase the spread of bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal and vector-borne diseases. Low- and middle-income countries are at risk of experiencing the greatest burden of both AMR and climate change, while also hosting the fastest-growing livestock and aquaculture industries where there are high levels of antimicrobial use.

This stream aims to scope knowledge and implementation gaps in low- and middle-income countries to collaboratively address AMR and climate change in livestock and aquaculture systems. It also seeks to develop guidance to incorporate a climate change lens into AMR intervention and implementation research. 

"The Community of Action that would be under this stream will bring together experts across disciplines and support prioritization of measures that are both climate and AMR smart for farmers in resource-scarce settings," said Kristina Osbjer, senior science advisor at ICARS.