Examining the proposed role of civil society and non-governmental organisations in the implementation of AMR national action plans: A global policy review

This policy review examined how civil society organisations (CSOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are included in national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) action plans. An analysis of 129 AMR National Action Plans from WHO member states found that CSOs were mentioned in 40% of plans and NGOs in 51%, but their roles were often vague and poorly defined. Where included, CSOs were most frequently associated with advocacy and awareness-raising, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, while their involvement in education, prevention, surveillance, resource mobilisation, and policy decision-making was less common. Overall, the study concludes that national AMR strategies underutilise the potential of civil society, highlighting the need for more specific and meaningful integration of CSOs and NGOs to strengthen community engagement and support effective AMR policy implementation.