By Cyber Era NG Special Correspondent

On 20 June Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) co-hosted the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereign and Innovation with the African Union and the French Republic. At this event, opened by the Chair of the Board of Gavi, the President of the French Republic, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Gavi called on donors to support its efforts to protect more children, against more diseases, faster than ever before as it published its Investment Opportunity for its next strategic period, 2026-2030. The Forum also marked the launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which will be backed by approximately US$ 1.2 billion in donor funding over the next 10 years.

Countries from around the world participated in this Global Forum, including the Heads of State or Government of Botswana, Germany, Ghana, Norway, Rwanda, and Senegal, as well as high-level representatives from governments (including more than 25 Ministers) and the European Commission, and leaders of partner organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund and UNITAID, as well from civil society, development banks, and the private sector.

The Future of Global Immunisation

In presenting its latest Investment Opportunity, CEO of Gavi Dr. Sania Nishtar outlined to participants how the Alliance, if fully funded, could protect 500 million children in its next five-year strategic period, saving over 8 million lives.

Today’s announced targets mean that while Gavi vaccinated one billion children between 2000 and 2020, it is aiming to reach the next billion children in half the time. 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. Fifty percent of the vaccines in Gavi’s portfolio help combat the twin threats of climate change and antimicrobial resistance, expand investments in outbreak and pandemic preparedness and response, and key vaccine programmes. In Gavi’s next five-year strategy, it will aim to reach at least 50 million children with four doses of the malaria vaccine, and 120 million girls – saving 1.5 million lives – with the HPV vaccine.

Achieving this historic milestone will require effort from all of Gavi’s stakeholders, with donors being asked to provide new funding of US$ 9 billion. These pledges will be supplemented by a suite of innovative finance instruments that will maximise the impact of donor funding. Meanwhile, countries implementing Gavi programmes are expected to contribute a record amount – over 40 per cent – of their own routine vaccine costs during the next strategic period. This is compared to 10 per cent just fifteen years ago, reflective of the Vaccine Alliance’s unique model of country-ownership and sustainability of immunisation programmes. At the same time, immunisation programmes are expected to generate at least US$ 100 billion in economic benefits for Gavi-implementing countries.

With Gavi’s replenishment process for 2026-2030 only just beginning, the event saw early pledges from the United States of America, France, Spain and private sector and philanthropic donors worth at least US$ 2.4 billion. Gavi will now commence an intense period of fundraising, with a view to hosting a final pledging event in the next 7 to 12 months.

Historic support for sustainable African vaccine manufacturing

The Forum also saw the official launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), an innovative finance mechanism designed to boost regional vaccine production capabilities in Africa and thus improve the continent’s resilience in the face of pandemics and other health emergencies.

Designed by Gavi in close collaboration with the African Union and Africa CDC, AVMA will offer incentives to the region’s vaccine producers that successfully hit critical regulatory and supply milestones, helping to offset high upfront investment costs. Twelve sovereign and philanthropic donors committed to provide approximately US$1. 2 billion to AVMA, including around US$ 800 million from Team Europe partners.

“Over twenty years, Gavi has vaccinated a whole generation – over one billion children. Our message today to our donors is that, with their help we can achieve even greater impact, helping to create a world that is safer for everyone,” said Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance José Manuel Barroso.

“The Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation we organized together today in Paris 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,” said President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

“The African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator could thus become a catalyst for promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa, creating an environment conducive to technical assistance and technology transfer, and fostering innovation and collaboration between member states. Africa-CDC is strongly committed to increasing Africa’s drug production capacity from 1 per cent to 60 per cent 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,” said Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Outcomes Of The Global Forum

In addition to unveiling its 2026-2030 Investment Opportunity and formalizing AVMA, the Forum saw a number of new commitments and partnerships launched in support of Gavi’s next strategic period, leading to early pledges totalling more than US$ 2.4 billion:

The United States of America will commit at least US$ 1.58 billion over the next five years towards Gavi’s next strategy

France will commit at least an equal amount compared to its contribution for the 2021-2025 strategic period

Spain will commit at least 25 per cent more compared to its contributions for the 2021-2025 strategic period

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committing new funding of up to US$30 million to the Gavi Matching Fund and US$21 million as initial contributions to Gavi 6.0; it will make its full replenishment pledge at a later date.

A contribution from the ELMA Vaccines & Immunization 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, as well as 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, marking the first step to scale-up vaccine access using Zipline’s drone innovation.

A commitment from Power of Nutrition Pakistan and the Aga Khan Foundation, matched by Gavi Matching Fund, will make US$7.2 million available for the joint delivery of immunisation and nutrition services to zero-dose children living in remote and fragile settings in Pakistan.

UPS, a longstanding Gavi partner, further 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 in funding to support Gavi’s core programmes in the next strategic period.

A number of commitments were also confirmed in support of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), primarily through strategic reallocations of COVID-19 funding, totalling approximately US$ 1.2 billion:

Germany – US$ 318 million

European Commission – US$ 233 million

Italy – US$ 150 million

United States – US$ 150 million

France – US$ 100 million

Canada – US$ 65 million

United Kingdom – 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

In addition to financial commitments from sovereign and private donors to Gavi’s next strategic period, and innovative private sector and philanthropic partnerships, vaccine manufacturers also stepped up to support the Vaccine Alliance’s goal of shaping healthy vaccine markets that support equitable access:

South Africa’s Biovac announced a partnership with South Korea’s EuBiologics to manufacture pentavalent meningitis vaccine in Africa, and with France’s Sanofi to produce inactivated polio vaccine.

Sanofi also announced continued investment in a new Yellow Fever vaccine based on innovative cell culture technology.

EuBiologics announced investment to expand supply of its newly pre-qualified cholera vaccine with optimised formulation.

Atlantic Lifesciences of Ghana announced a partnership to produce HPV vaccines.

Institut Pasteur de Dakar of Senegal announced investments to expand production of Yellow Fever vaccine as well as for innovative antigen platforms for measles-rubella and mRNA vaccines.

A specific initiative dedicated to supporting local production of vaccines against cholera was also launched under the auspices of the Forum with the support of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, the United States of America, as well as the European Commission, Gavi, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation. France made a concrete commitment to this ambition by announcing support of EUR 10 million.

“With the support of Team Europe, France committed to co-host this Forum with the Vaccine Alliance and the African Union because we share a common ambition: ensuring vaccine sovereignty for all our partners! Local production is key to better fight epidemics and next pandemics. This objective is at the core of our global health strategy as well as of the EU-AU strategic partnership,” said Minister of State for Development and International Partnerships of the French Republic Dr. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou.

“Africa CDC supports the replenishment of Gavi’s 6.0 strategy, an investment in preventing deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa. AVMA will enable us to produce 60% of our vaccines in Africa by 2040. The commitments and pledges for the AVMA mark the beginning of Africa’s journey towards its second independence — an Africa that ensures the health security for its citizens,” said Director General of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Dr. Jean Kaseya,

“We are incredibly grateful for the strong show of support we received today from donors as we prepare 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,” said CEO of Gavi Dr. Sania Nishtar.

Gavi and its partners also launched “The Starting Line,” a campaign designed to mobilise athletes, content creators, and media to highlight the importance of equal access to vaccines. The campaign will run through this summer’s Paris Olympics and will feature a series of sporting champions, including former French footballer Robert Pires, former swimmer, and Olympic gold medalist Laure Manaudou, breakdancer Junior Bosila Banya, professional footballer Ada Hegerberg, and Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah. Additionally, the campaign will include a series of videos by content creators such as Michel Cymes and Max Klymenko, and the launch of a website where everyone can assess their place on “The Starting Line” of life.”