SWITZERLAND—The European Commission has allocated €260 million(US$288.7 million) to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as part of its funding for the next two years of Gavi’s future five-year strategy term, Gavi 6.0, which will run from 2026 to 2027, with additional support expected.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed this pledge during her speech at the Global Citizen Festival in New York’s Central Park on Saturday, September 28.
Von der Leyen emphasized that this financial commitment aligns with Team Europe’s strong backing of Gavi’s efforts.
It will help contribute to Gavi’s ambitious goal of protecting 500 million more children by 2030, strengthening immunization systems, and improving global health security by enhancing preparedness for disease outbreaks.
This announcement capped off a productive week for Gavi in New York, where the organization made strides in its innovative financing capabilities.
Progress was also made in highlighting the importance of vaccines in combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the integration of AI and other advanced technologies to improve vaccination rollouts.
With this pledge, Gavi’s total fundraising for its next strategic period now stands at US$2.7 billion, following contributions from the USA, France, and Spain earlier this year at the launch of Gavi’s replenishment campaign.
This still leaves Gavi short of its overall fundraising target of at least US$9 billion, which it hopes to achieve by early 2025.
The European Commission’s pledge specifically pertains to the first two years of Gavi’s upcoming cycle, which align with the final two years of the EU’s current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) from 2021 to 2027.
The Commission is committed to maintaining high levels of ambition for Gavi’s support when drafting the next MFF.
Meeting this funding target will allow Gavi to accelerate its mission of protecting children from more diseases at a faster rate and bolster its ability to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as mpox, Ebola, and cholera.
Additionally, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Gavi announced an expansion of its partnership with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), with a focus on donor liquidity.
The US$1 billion Rapid Financing Facility will give Gavi swift access to funds in response to new donor pledges, whether for pandemic response or routine immunization.
This mechanism will also form a crucial part of Gavi’s Day Zero Financing Facility, designed to address challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic when delays in financing slowed access to vaccines for vulnerable populations.
In her remarks, Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, expressed her gratitude for the European Commission’s generous support and von der Leyen’s leadership in promoting global health.
She also thanked the DFC for extending its partnership, which will enable Gavi to transform donor commitments into immediate cash, allowing for rapid access to vaccines in the future.
Regarding broader implications, DFC Deputy CEO Nisha Biswal noted that global health security is integral to economic and national security.
She highlighted that the DFC’s investments in healthcare services, supply chains, and technology over the past several years have provided healthcare access to over 50 million patients.
With the new Surge Financing Initiative and expanded Gavi liquidity facility, the DFC is poised to do even more to increase access to life-saving healthcare products, particularly during health emergencies.
At the UNGA 79’s High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, Gavi welcomed the endorsement of a historic Political Declaration, which included significant language on immunization.
This declaration committed member states to align national AMR action plans with national vaccination and immunization strategies, emphasizing the importance of prevention through routine immunization.
Furthermore, Gavi was recognized as a key financing mechanism in the fight against AMR, alongside other organizations such as the World Bank and The Global Fund.
As part of its activities during UNGA 79, Gavi hosted a side event titled “The Future of Immunization for Humanity,” which explored how new technologies could be leveraged to reach unvaccinated children.
Gavi also co-hosted the “Healthier Future through Equitable Immunization” event, which brought together global and regional leaders to discuss ways to ensure that life-saving vaccines reach those in need and honored the work of advocates and health professionals dedicated to this mission.
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