Gavi strengthens its partnership with World Bank in USD2B health financing pledge

SWITZERLAND/USA—Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Bank Group have expanded their partnership to strengthen financing for immunization programs and primary healthcare systems across developing nations.

The collaboration particularly focuses on supporting regional vaccine manufacturing in Africa while helping countries build long-term sustainable health infrastructure.

The two organizations plan to mobilize at least USD2 billion over the next five years through joint financing initiatives.

These efforts will align with individual country priorities and needs, ensuring that resources reach communities where they can make the greatest impact.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized the partnership’s broader economic implications.

He explained that strengthening health systems delivers benefits beyond improved patient care.

These investments will create employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and build lasting resilience throughout the health sector.

The initiative supports the World Bank Group’s ambitious goal of delivering quality health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, described the expanded collaboration as a continuation of longstanding efforts to help countries develop robust and resilient health systems.

As Gavi enters its next five-year strategic period and implements its transformative Gavi Leap agenda, the additional resources from this partnership will prove essential.

The funding will accelerate progress toward country ownership, self-reliance, and health systems that can respond effectively to future health threats.

The partnership will deploy innovative financing tools to support low- and lower middle-income countries as they transition from external support to sustainable self-financing.

These tools include blended finance, buydowns, and guarantees.

Both organizations will also collaborate on public financial management to ensure efficient resource allocation.

A key component of the collaboration addresses vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

Gavi and the World Bank Group will work together to advance local production capabilities, supporting the African Union’s goal of producing 60 percent of the continent’s vaccines domestically by 2040.

This effort aligns with Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator and will involve coordination with multiple partners across the continent.

Since launching its health initiative 18 months ago, the World Bank Group and its partners have already reached 375 million additional people with quality health services.

Current work focuses on scaling proven primary care approaches that strengthen health outcomes while generating employment across health workforces, local supply chains, and supporting industries.

Earlier this year, Gavi announced USD4.5 billion in complementary financing with Multilateral Development Banks and development finance institutions at its replenishment summit.

The recent Memorandum of Understanding represents a crucial step toward delivering this ambitious commitment.

Dr. Nishtar and Ajay Banga signed the agreement during the Universal Health Coverage High-level Forum in Japan, which the Japanese government hosted in collaboration with the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization.