FAO Inventory of ICT for One Health
Inventory scope
The Inventory of ICT for One Health is a curated compilation of information and communication technology (ICT) resources. ICT for One Health (OH) refers to digital tools, software, communication and e-learning platforms, mobile applications, and integrated systems that support the collection, analysis, visualization, prediction, exchange, and seamless flow of data and information across One Health sectors. These technologies enable multisectoral collaboration to better understand risks and strengthen system resilience across human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health fronts, with particular emphasis on supporting countries in implementing One Health information systems.
The Inventory brings together Open-access and widely used tools that have supported improving the data flow and information exchange towards the One Health implementation in resource-limited settings in the following key areas:
- Risk monitoring: Data collection, management, and sharing on One Health threats, including surveillance, reporting and early detection, underlying risk indicators, and information on diagnostic, prevention, and control measures in place.
- Risk assessment: Data analysis, trend analysis, risk mapping, modeling, forecasting, and vulnerability assessments to understand the likelihood and potential impact of threats.
- Risk communication: Alert systems, early warning mechanisms, risk communication, information dissemination, and stakeholder engagement modalities.
- Risk management support: Scenario simulation – based decision support tools for planning interventions, resource prioritization, intervention planning, response coordination, monitoring of control measures, and evaluation of response effectiveness.
- Digital communities and knowledge sharing platforms: Communities of Practices (CoPs), knowledge sharing listservs, knowledge bases and AI-enabled information retrieval tools that facilitate exchange of expertise, peer learning, and dissemination of best practices across sectors and regions.
- Training and capacity building platforms: E-learning systems, virtual and blended training courses, and digitally enabled country workshops, alongside community engagement platforms that support continuous learning, skills development, and capacity strengthening.
- Cross-sectoral collaboration tools for shared resources & work: Platforms for coordination of resources, joint planning and implementation tools, and financial collaboration systems that support pooled funding, budgeting, and aligned multi-sectoral action.
How the inventory was co-designed
The Inventory of ICT for One Health was co-developed between May 2025 and July 2026 through joint efforts of the FAO Community of Practice on Information and Communication Technologies for One Health (ICT CoP) coordination and management team, in close collaboration with CoP members and an Advisory Core Group of 14 experts representing diverse One Health and information technology backgrounds.
The initial identification and selection of tools followed a structured, multi-step process, starting with nominations from the Core Group, followed by a snowball sampling approach through expert networks, and complemented by targeted web-based searches and reviews of scientific literature. The ICT CoP coordination team is responsible for consolidating and tracking submissions, coordinating data collection from contributors and partners, maintaining the master database, and ensuring version control through a centralized repository. The team also manages the associated digital platform, including backend infrastructure and database integration.
Version 0.0 of the Inventory, presented in table format, was first released with restricted access to ICT CoP members in October 2025. The publicly accessible online Version 1.0 was launched in July 2026 and includes 30 ICT tools selected based on criteria defined by the ICT CoP coordination team and the 14-member Advisory Core Group.
Tool submission
The inventory is an ongoing continuous effort of tools collection, inclusion, and exclusion as the tools and their country usage evolves.
Members of the public including epidemiologists, data scientists, IT professionals, and programme managers, as well as ICT CoP members and tool developers are invited to suggest new tools, updates, and provide constructive feedback on how to improve both the inventory and the digital platform for optimal use.
The Inventory organizes ICTs by functional domain, sectoral relevance, technical features, and interoperability. Inclusion criteria require ICTs to be freely available for non-profit use with clear licensing; developed or governed by Quadripartite, public, academic, or non-profit entities; demonstrate One Health relevance; support standard data exchange and interoperability; enable cross-sector integration; be suitable for national or subnational implementation in low-resource settings; and show documented country-level use. Merit criteria further assess multi-data and functional capacity, cross-issue applicability, open-source flexibility, adherence to data governance and security standards, scalability and adaptability, technical support, and long-term sustainability, especially in low-resource settings.
Intended user base
The Inventory serves as a decision-support tool for informed ICT selection, utilizing a structured framework to compare tools by scalability, integration capacity, and cross-sector utility. By highlighting cross-sector use, the inventory promotes harmonization, allows comparison of tools by purpose, scalability, integration, and context, and identifies functional gaps to guide ICT investments.
The primary users of the inventory are envisioned as programme managers overseeing one or more One Health initiatives, as well as country stakeholder teams responsible for strengthening One Health information systems and implementing National One Health Strategies and Work Plans.
Terms of Inventory Use & Copyright
The inclusion of specific companies, software, products and third-party websites in the inventory does not imply any official endorsement, accreditation, or recommendation by FAO or partnering quadripartite organizations over similar tools not mentioned.
The Inventory is the property of FAO. The content of the Inventory is subject to FAO's Terms and Conditions for use of its website. Users of the Inventory may freely copy and download the content available in the One Health ICT Inventory for private study, research and teaching purposes, and for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO's endorsement of users' views, products or services is not stated or implied in any way.
As the user, you expressly acknowledge and agree that your use of the Inventory of ICT for One Health is at your sole risk. The Inventory is a live and continuously updated resource. The information contained within reflects the status available as of the most recent update date. Users are advised to check the bottom of the inventory webpage for the latest update information.
FAO shall not be considered responsible for and does not make any warranties or representations of any kind regarding the accuracy, suitability, availability, or completeness of any information contained therein, nor for any use of such information by users for any purpose. Users accessing the inventory assume full responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the content.
Copyright of the individual materials available through the Inventory of ICT for One Health remains with the original rights holder(s). Where specific authorization is required to reuse or redistribute materials produced by the relevant institutions, users must obtain permission directly from the respective rights holder(s).
Questions related to the inventory, usage, and ideas: Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Compilation, funding, and acknowledgements
Inventory of ICT for One Health is developed and maintained by the FAO Community of Practice on Information and Communication Technologies for One Health (ICT CoP), with contributions from its membership, Core Group of advisors, FAO CSI, FAO VLCs, the collaborators, and the generous funding support from the UK International Development of the UK Government.