In June 2024, Gavi co-hosted the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation with the African Union and the French Republic. The event was attended by representatives from countries around the world and leaders of partner organisations, civil society, development banks, and the private sector. Gavi invited donors to support efforts to “protect more children against more diseases, faster than ever before” and launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA).
Ambitious targets
Dr Sania Nishtar, Gavi’s CEO, explained to attendees how the Alliance, with full support, could protect 500 million children in the next five-year strategic period, resulting in over 8 million lives saved. The latest targets show that Gavi is aiming to reach the next billion children in half the time it took to reach one billion between 2000 and 2020.
“This acceleration through 2030 is critical at a time when countries combat the increasing risks of climate change, fragility, and economic instability – and in the last push towards the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Donors were asked to provide new funding of US$9 billion, supplemented by a suite of “innovative finance instruments” to maximise the donor funding. Countries implementing Gavi programmes are also expected to contribute a record amount, over 40%, of their own routine vaccine costs throughout the upcoming strategic period. This is an increase compared to 10% fifteen years ago and reflects the “unique model of country-ownership and sustainability of immunisation programmes”. Immunisation programmes are expected to generate at least US100 billion in economic benefits for Gavi-implementing countries.
Support for AVMA
The Forum also hosted the official launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which is designed to “boost” regional production capabilities in Africa and improve the continent’s resilience in the face of pandemics and other health emergencies. The AVMA, designed in collaboration with the African Union and Africa CDC, will offer incentives to regional vaccine producers that successfully hit regulatory and supply milestones. 12 sovereign and philanthropic donors committed to provide around US$1.2 billion to AVMA, including around US$800 million from Team Europe.
José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board of Gavi, emphasised his message to donors:
“With their help we can achieve even greater impact, helping to create a world that is safer for everyone.”
President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, commented that the Forum is a “concrete milestone towards vaccine sovereignty in Africa”.
“France, hand in hand with its partners, is leading the way to champion global vaccination, ensuring every nation can protect its citizens and foster a healthier, united world.”
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chair of the African Union Commission, hopes that the AVMA will “become a catalyst for promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa”, create an environment “conducive to technical assistance and technology transfer”, and foster “innovation and collaboration between member states”.
“Africa CDC is strongly committed to increasing Africa’s drug production capacity from 1% to 60% by 2040. As part of this drive, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), once operational, will lay the foundations for a genuine integration of the levers of our health sovereignty.”
Greg Perry, Assistant Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), commented on the launch of the AVMA, describing it as a “groundbreaking financing instrument” to “catalyse vaccine production” in Africa and “bolster global health resilience and equitable access to vaccines”.
“For AVMA to have the maximum possible impact, it’s paramount that we create the environment for the life sciences to thrive, including robust regulatory and legal frameworks, forecasting mechanisms, demand generation, and efficient procurement strategies.”
Money matters
The Forum saw several new commitments and partnerships launched in support of the next strategic period.
- The US will commit at least US$ 1.58 billion over the next 5 years.
- France will commit at least an equal amount compared to its contribution for the 2021-2025 period.
- Spain will commit at least 25% more than its contributions for the 2021-2025 period.
- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is committing funding of up to US$ 30 million to the Gavi Matching Fund and US$21 million as initial contributions with a full replenishment pledge to follow.
- A contribution from the ELMA Vaccines and Immunisation Foundation, matched by the Gavi Matching Fund, will make a total of US$10.3 million available for sustainably identifying and reaching under-immunised children in rural communities in Ethiopia and to improve vaccine distribution and data systems at the last mile in Uganda.
- A consortium of private foundations, entities, and high net worth individuals is contributing a total of US$ 8 million, the first step to scale up vaccine access with Zipline’s drone innovation.
- A commitment from Power of Nutrition Pakistan and the Aga Khan Foundation, matched by the Gavi Matching Fund, will make US$ 7.2 million available for the joint delivery of immunisation and nutrition services to zero-dose children in remote and fragile settings in Pakistan.
- UPS, a longstanding partner of Gavi, commits US$1 million to strengthen last mile delivery supply chain networks in Ethiopia.
- An anonymous high net worth individual will donate US$1 million to support Gavi’s core programmes in the next period.
AVMA commitments
Commitments in support of AVMA were also confirmed, primarily through strategic reallocations of COVID-19 funding, contributing around US$1.2 billion:
- Germany – US$318 million
- European Commission – US$233 million
- Italy – US$150 million
- US – US$150 million
- France – US$100 million
- Canada – US$65 million
- UK – US$60 million
- Japan – US$30 million
- Norway – US$26 million
- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – US$10 million
- Luxembourg – US$3 million
- Ireland – US$710,000
Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, is “incredibly grateful for the strong show of support” in preparation for “an intense period of resource mobilisation”.
“We are grateful also to implementing countries, for the political commitment they make to vaccine equity, and alongside them Gavi’s many partners and stakeholders with whom we strive day in, day out, to improve lives and livelihoods.”
The Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Dr David Reddy, welcomed the launch of the new investment round.
“For over two decades, IFPMA members have collaborated with Gavi to combat infectious diseases and tackle some of the biggest global health challenges. As founding partners of Gavi, we are proud of the contribution our member companies make, and we remain dedicated to accelerating the development, production, and equitable distribution of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines.”
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