PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Global Fund chief warns innovative finance ‘a proxy’ for actual giving

dlegge — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:46:05 +0000

Global Fund chief warns innovative finance ‘a proxy’ for actual giving

21 June 2023

dlegge Sun, 21/01/2024 - 11:46

Devex

On the eve of a major summit in Paris, Peter Sands says grants, not loans, rema…

The head of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has warned that innovative financial instruments and private sector mobilization are only of limited use when it comes to helping the world’s poorest people.

Speaking to Devex ahead of a summit in Paris this week, designed to strike a new pact between wealthy and low-income countries, Peter Sands said that getting multilateral development banks to stimulate private investment in low-income, conflict-affected countries “is not going to really work … because you are not going to get rational private capital investing significant sums in those parts of the world.”

A draft declaration for the Paris summit, drawn up by the French organizers and seen by Devex, reiterates the need for “new, innovative and stable sources of finance,” especially to tackle poverty and climate change. However, it is light on new financial commitments, and as Devex has reported, shareholders are themselves split over whether to inject new capital into, for instance, MDBs.

Sands told Devex Tuesday that the Global Fund, which largely operates through grants sustained by replenishment conferences every three years, is keen to expand its work with MDBs. He cited the potential for more collaboration on procurement and providing technical assistance alongside lenders like the World Bank.

However, Sands also cautioned that donors should also be “very realistic” about the limits of working through a system of loans rather than grants.

“If you are dealing with the plight of the very poorest — displaced people in war zones, children in the most poverty-stricken rural parts of Africa — there is no real private sector incentive [to invest],” he said. “That has to be an altruistic, greater good of humanity motivation that drives that kind of impact.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Global finance

Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria

ESTABLISHMENT OF A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY FUND FOR PANDEMIC PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

dlegge — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:33:32 +0000

ESTABLISHMENT OF A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY FUND FOR PANDEMIC PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

01 June 2022

dlegge Mon, 28/08/2023 - 12:33

ESTABLISHMENT OF A FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY FUND FOR PANDEMIC PREVENTION, PREPARE…

COVID-19 has highlighted the urgent need for collective action to augment the existing global health security financing system and to mobilize additional resources to build health systems and strengthen capacity for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). Avoiding future pandemics requires investing substantially more in PPR; these investments will help avert the much larger costs that the world would incur if we were to be caught unprepared for the next global health crisis. Countries must step up domestic investments in the core capacities needed to strengthen health preparedness and prevent and contain future pandemics, in accordance with the International Health Regulations. This must be complemented by enhanced external financing, particularly for developing countries. The joint World Bank-WHO paper on PPR financing needs and gaps1 , prepared for the G20 Joint Finance and Health Task Force, estimated that external financing amounting to an additional US$10.5 billion per year, over the next five years, is needed for investments at the country, regional and global level to strengthen the capacity of low-income countries (LICs) and middle-income countries (MICs). PPR is a global public good. Mobilizing the needed external financing to strengthen PPR in low- and middle-income countries and regions that are the most fiscally stretched and in need of financial support is the collective responsibility of the international community.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Analysis of Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) architecture, financing needs, gaps and mechanisms

dlegge — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:29:41 +0000

Analysis of Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) architecture, financing needs, gaps and mechanisms

29 March 2022

dlegge Mon, 28/08/2023 - 12:29

WB & WHO

Analysis of Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) architecture, financing ne…

Key messages:

1. A global Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) architecture consists of five sub-systems that are interlinked and must be deployed at national, regional and global level:

Surveillance, collaborative intelligence, and early warning
Prioritized research and equitable access to countermeasures and essential supplies
Public health and social measures and engaged, resilient communities
Lifesaving, safe and scalable health interventions, and resilient health systems
PPR strategy, coordination, and emergency operations

2. The case for investing in PPR is clear. The frequency and impact of pandemic-prone pathogens are increasing. Modest investments in PPR capacities can prevent and contain disease outbreaks, thereby drastically reducing the cost of response and the broader economic and social impacts of a pandemic or large-scale outbreak. Such investments will also help address longstanding challenges that are key drivers of mortality today, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and anti-microbial resistance.

3. The total annual financing need for the future PPR system is estimated at US$ 31.1 billion, consistent with the estimate of the G20 High-Level Independent Panel. Considering current and expected domestic and international financing for PPR, it is estimated that at least an additional US$ 10.5 billion per year in international financing will be needed to fund a fit-forpurpose PPR architecture.

a. At national level, the largest PPR capacity gaps can be found in countries with the least fiscal space to address them, LICs and LMICs for which annual financing needs are estimated to be in the order of US$ 16.2 billion per year, with a gap of at least US$ 7.0 billion to be covered by international financing.

b. Meeting the annual financing gap for the global and regional components of the PPR architecture is estimated to require in the order of US$ 3.5 billion per year.

4. The COVID-19 crisis has shown the need to invest more in PPR. Further, the world currently lacks the capacity to coordinate the magnitude of funds required to fill critical gaps in PPR. Three high-level approaches, which are not mutually exclusive, provide possible solutions:

a. Selectively augment resources for existing institutions to support PPR priorities;

b. Establish a new, dedicated stream of additional international financing for PPR that can be channelled flexibly through existing institutions to strengthen PPR in a way that brings the most added value for both contributors and recipients (e.g., a pooled fund);

c. Establish a new agency to consolidate the necessary fiduciary capacity and legal, administrative, and technical expertise (limited feasibility in the short to medium term).

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Financing Modalities for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR)

dlegge — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:24:30 +0000

Financing Modalities for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR)

29 March 2022

dlegge Mon, 28/08/2023 - 12:24

WB & WHO

Financing Modalities for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) P…

1. COVID-19 has highlighted an urgent need for global collective action to substantially scale up investments and support to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the next pandemic. The pandemic has demonstrated that investing in prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) is a global public good that benefits every nation—regardless of income or wealth. This requires investments at the country, regional, and global levels. It is the collective responsibility of the international community to ensure that the necessary investments in PPR are made, on an urgent and sustained basis, so that low-income and lower-income countries and regions are better prepared to face the next pandemic.

2. Domestic financing will have to play the leading role in strengthening PPR. All countries, developing and industrialized alike, must step up domestic investments in the core capacities needed to prevent, detect, and contain future pandemics, in accordance with the International Health Regulations. Governments will in many cases have to embark on reforms to mobilize and sustain additional domestic resources, to build up these pandemic-related capacities and strengthen health systems more broadly, while at the same time enabling their economies to return to durable growth.

3. However, domestic actions alone will not be sufficient to prevent the next pandemic; they will need to be complemented by enhanced international financing for PPR investments, particularly for the poorest countries, and including some key international elements of PPR investments. Independent reports and studies commissioned over the past two years, including the G20 High Level Independent Panel’s (HLIP) report from June 20211 and the joint paper on PPR financing needs and gaps prepared by the WHO and World Bank for the G20 Finance and Health Task Force, updated in March 2022,2 , among others, have underscored that we can only avoid future pandemics, or reduce the scale and costs of outbreaks, if the international community invests substantially more than it has been willing to do in the past – a mistake for which the world is now paying for many times over in dealing with damage caused by COVID-19. These reports have estimated that international financing for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) needs to increase by between US$10.5 billion to US$15 billion per year over the next five years, with sustained investments in subsequent years. These reports have also recommended a pooled financing mechanism to enhance the impact of such funding through catalytic and gap filling investments.

4. The purpose of this paper is to examine the modalities through which international financing of PPR for the developing world, including elements requiring investments at country, regional and global levels, can be strengthened. The paper begins with a review of the existing institutions and actors engaged in the international financing of PPR and then offers some recommendations on how to augment the global health security financing system through a pooled financing mechanism to mobilize and deploy additional resources for increased investments in PPR through collective, multilateral action.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

dlegge — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 06:18:32 +0000

G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response dlegge Mon, 07/08/2023 - 16:18

G-20 HLP on PP&R

G20 High Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic P…

A G20 High Level Independent Panel (HLIP) on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response was established on 26 January 2021.

The HLIP is tasked with:

Identifying the gaps in the financing system for the global commons for pandemic prevention, surveillance, preparedness and response.

Proposing actionable solutions to meet these gaps on a systematic and sustainable basis, and optimally leverage resources from the public, private and philanthropic sectors and the international financial institutions (IFIs).

The HLIP’s members, predominantly economic and finance experts, serve in their individual and independent capacities. The HLIP is providing a Progress Note to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors at their meeting in April 2021, and will present its full recommendations during their July 2021 meeting.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Assessing the State of Play in the WHO Pandemic Instrument Negotiations

dlegge — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 02:17:33 +0000

Assessing the State of Play in the WHO Pandemic Instrument Negotiations

18 July 2023

dlegge Wed, 02/08/2023 - 12:17

South Centre

Assessing the State of Play in the WHO Pandemic Instrument Negotiations

This Policy Brief discusses the state of play of the negotiations of the pandemic instrument at the World Health Organization. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) is increasing its meetings as the target deadline for completion in the first half of 2024 draws closer. To advance, the political will needs to be scaled up in the next months. The expectations should not be lowered to focus on the lowest common denominator. Real progress needs to be made in priority areas of concern for developing countries to keep momentum.

Keywords

PandemicTreaty

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Lining Up Realistic Solutions if the ‘Holy Grail’ of the Pandemic Accord Fails

dlegge — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 02:12:23 +0000

Lining Up Realistic Solutions if the ‘Holy Grail’ of the Pandemic Accord Fails

21 July 2023

dlegge Wed, 02/08/2023 - 12:12

Health Policy Watch

Lining Up Realistic Solutions if the ‘Holy Grail’ of the Pandemic Accord Fails

With the fate and nature of the pandemic accord currently being negotiated by World Health Organization (WHO) member states still uncertain, global health experts are calling for “realistic” backup plans to protect the world against the next pandemic.

“We need an ambitious but implementable pandemic accord – that is the Holy Grail,” Javier Guzman, Director of Global Health at the Center for Development (CDG) told a CDG panel on Thursday convened to discuss the lessons of the pandemic, particularly in relation to the global COVID-19 vaccine access platform, COVAX.

“Now, will it materialize? Will it be enforceable? Would it be ambitious enough? Will it be ratified? I’m not very optimistic, based on what I’ve seen,” said Guzman. “So if that doesn’t happen – or if that happens, but it’s not enforceable, or it’s not what we all need as the globe – then we need to move to the second best option, which is realistic options.”

Keywords

PandemicTreaty

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

The New Pandemic Fund: Overview and Key Issues for the U.S.

dlegge — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:35:07 +0000

The New Pandemic Fund: Overview and Key Issues for the U.S.

30 May 2023

dlegge Tue, 01/08/2023 - 09:35

KFF

The New Pandemic Fund: Overview and Key Issues for the U.S.

… Given how nascent the fund is, there are still many unknowns and unanswered questions about how it will be implemented, the scope and duration of its work, and how it fits into the broader set of global health efforts. To help shed light on these topics, this brief reviews the evolution and establishment of the Pandemic Fund, describes the Fund’s governance and operations, and discusses key issues and challenges for the Fund – particularly related to U.S. engagement – as it continues to make its transition from concept to implementation.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

Pandemic Fund Allocates First Grants to Help Countries Be Better Prepared for Future Pandemics

dlegge — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:44:24 +0000

Pandemic Fund Allocates First Grants to Help Countries Be Better Prepared for Future Pandemics

20 July 2023

dlegge Tue, 01/08/2023 - 07:44

World Bank

Pandemic Fund Allocates First Grants to Help Countries Be Better Prepared for F…

The Pandemic Fund’s Governing Board has approved grants under its first round of funding allocations aimed to boost the resilience to future pandemics in 37 countries across six regions. The selected projects will receive funding to strengthen disease surveillance and early warning, laboratory systems, and health workforce.

Keywords

PandemicPreparednessFinancing

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Statement on the Allocation of Funding in the First Call for Proposals by the Pandemic Fund

dlegge — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:33:55 +0000

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Statement on the Allocation of Funding in the First Call for Proposals by the Pandemic Fund

28 July 2023

dlegge Tue, 01/08/2023 - 07:33

Africa CDC

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Statement o…

… Overlooking the inclusion of Africa CDC, which is the sole continental public health institution, was an unfortunate oversight. As a result, Africa’s health security gaps remain inadequately addressed, leading to the absence of multi-country/regional proposals from the continent. Africa CDC would like to recall that in February 2023, it reiterated its stance as an observer at the Pandemic Fund’s Board, emphasizing the significance of inclusive representation in the Fund’s governance structures, technical teams, and Secretariat to inform its crucial work. Africa CDC would also like to echo the call from African Heads of State and Government for a better representation of Africa in all multilateral constituencies. Africa CDC further urges for equitable representation of African countries and regional organizations in the relevant structures to ensure fair and inclusive outcomes. Therefore, Africa CDC once again urges the Pandemic Fund to take decisive action for the admission of Africa CDC as an Implementing Entity to join the ones identified in 2022. Moving forward, Africa CDC strongly advocates for an equity-based approach, emphasizing transparency and open dialogue throughout the decision-making process. Africa CDC, under the guidance of our Heads of State and Government, will actively support regional proposals that align with the newly approved Africa CDC Strategic Plan 2023-2027 by the Governing Board. These proposals will be guided by the principles of the New Public Health Order, which promotes respectful and action-driven partnerships, fostering a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to combating disease threats locally and globally.

Keywords