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Gavi Annual Progress Report 2021
Reliefweb29 September 2022Routine childhood immunisation experienced another challenging year in 2021 across the 57 countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as basic vaccine coverage fell 1 percentage point to 77%, according to Gavi’s 2021 Annual Progress Report, which is published today. However, preliminary data for the first five months of 2022 suggests health systems may be recovering from the strains placed on them by the pandemic.With 65 million children in Gavi-supported countries immunised through routine systems in 2021, Gavi’s work managed to generate more than US$ 18.9 billion in economic benefits, according to the Report. Another highlight of 2021 was the record US$ 161 million in co-financing contributed by Gavi-supported countries, which indicates further progress towards sustainability and country commitment to protecting childhood immunisation.The Report also considers the fact that, with Gavi countries also administering more than 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines, their respective health systems were able to protect more people than ever before in 2021.One area of strategic focus for the Vaccine Alliance in 2022 and beyond highlighted in the report is the increase in the number of zero-dose children, infants who have not received the first dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1), which grew by 570,000 to 12.5 million – leaving them vulnerable to some of the world’s deadliest diseases, and making Gavi’s 5.0 mission to locate and reach them even more pressing.Preliminary data from WHO suggests that countries’ immunisation programmes may be starting to recover. Among the 16 countries having reported data for January–May 2022, the data suggests a 2% increase. Gavi and its Alliance partners will be studying this data keenly in the coming months, to understand how countries are restoring their immunisation systems.“We have faced significant challenges,” said Prof José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board. “Routine immunisation continued to suffer in many countries in 2021 as a result of the pandemic. However, we are encouraged that the countries Gavi supports administered a record number of vaccine doses, both through routine programmes and also in their fight against COVID-19. Many countries did already begin to recover, which is a testament to heroic efforts made by their health systems and workers. As we move forward, we must maintain our focus on supporting routine immunisation and reaching zero-dose children with life-saving vaccines.”2021 also saw significant change for Gavi. In December 2021, the Gavi Board made history by approving funding to support the roll-out of the world’s first malaria vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022–2025. In addition, the first doses of licensed Ebola vaccine were shipped from a Gavi-funded global emergency stockpile of 500,000 doses. COVAX – which Gavi co-leads alongside the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF – shipped nearly 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 144 countries and territories around the world by the end of the year; that figure reached nearly 1.8 billion in September 2022.“Since 2019, we have seen the biggest sustained drop in routine immunisation in a generation, and millions of children are still missing out,\" said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Immunisation is one of the world\'s most effective and cost-effective public health interventions. Working alongside Gavi and other key partners, we need to catch-up on missed children – especially ‘zero-dose’ children who have yet to receive a single immunisation against killer childhood diseases – and make sure lost ground does not become lost lives.”“One of the great ironies of the COVID-19 pandemic is that while it has spurred the largest vaccination campaign in history, it has also disrupted routine immunisation for many vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Together with Gavi and other COVAX partners, WHO is committed to delivering vaccines against COVID-19 to end the pandemic, while scaling up routine immunisation services to reach every last child with life-saving vaccines.”\"I am proud that health workers and the health system in Chad have succeeded in increasing the number of vaccinations by more than six percentage points and reducing the number of zero-dose children by 2021 despite the challenges of the pandemic and the global climate, in collaboration with Gavi and Vaccine Alliance partners, including WHO and UNICEF,” added Dr Abdelmadjid Abderahim, Minister of Health and National Solidarity of the Republic of Chad.“While we saw 65% of Gavi-supported countries restore routine immunisation to pre-pandemic levels, we must accept the fact that the recovery in 2021 was not as strong as we had would have liked,” stressed Dr Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO. “The same can be said for zero-dose children, who, as a cohort, tragically by grew by 570,000 in 2021. Early indications are that 2022 started strongly and this gives grounds for optimism. Likewise, we continue to look to high-performing countries such as Chad and Pakistan to identify learnings that can be applied in other countries and apply special attention to those countries where improvement continues to be elusive. There is no higher priority for the Alliance in 2022 than keeping routine immunisation progress on track.”Between 2000 and 2021, Gavi’s achievements included:> 981 million children vaccinated through routine programmes> 1.4 billion vaccinations through vaccination campaigns> 16.2 million future deaths prevented 561 vaccine introductions and campaigns> US$ 185.3 billion in economic benefits generated in the countries we support US$ 1.3 billion in co-financing contributions from Gavi-supported countries since 2018
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- 5 October 2022
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400 000 doses of Comirnaty vaccine delivered to Ukraine under COVAX
World Health Organization19 September 2022On 18 September, 400 000 doses of the Comirnaty mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 developed by Pfizer/BioNTech were delivered to Ukraine under the framework of the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. The vaccines will be distributed throughout 23 regions in the country by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. “Together with our international partners, we continue to deliver vaccines against COVID-19 to Ukraine. With the approach of the autumn/winter period, it is especially important to protect yourself from COVID-19, because as the experience of past years shows, the incidence increases sharply at this time,” said Dr Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine. “Vaccination is an important priority during humanitarian emergencies, and one of UNICEF\'s key areas of work aimed at the protection and well-being of children and their parents. UNICEF will continue to help Ukraine provide access to immunization and adhere to a cold chain for vaccines,” emphasized Mr Murat Sahin, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Ukraine. Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, explained, “WHO continues to support Ukraine’s health system through the delivery of vaccines via the COVAX Facility and has trained over 30 000 health workers on the safe and effective use of COVID-19 vaccines, including on the use of the Comirnaty Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.” Dr Habicht added, “WHO urges everybody, especially the elderly, people with chronic diseases and those belonging to at-risk groups, to get their primary vaccine series and boosters against COVID-19 and to protect themselves and others as we enter the autumn/winter period.” The Comirnaty vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech contains messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) molecules that encode the spike protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. After the vaccine is administered, this mRNA enters the cells of the body and provides them with a kind of instruction on how to create this protein. The immune system recognizes that the protein does not belong to the person and produces antibodies against it. This is how the body learns to protect itself in the case of an encounter with a real SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine is approved for emergency use by WHO. In Ukraine, the Comirnaty vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech was registered for use on 22 February 2021. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has received COVID-19 vaccines for free through COVAX. COVAX is an international initiative that promotes access to effective and safe vaccines against COVID-19 for all countries. Deliveries on behalf of the initiative will continue to protect as many people as possible in Ukraine from the coronavirus disease. All adults and children over the age of 12 can be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine. A booster dose can be taken by all people over the age of 18. The second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine is available for all people over 60 years old in Ukraine, as well as to those aged 18–59 with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of a severe course of COVID-19. The European Union, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), UNICEF, the United Kingdom, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and WHO all continue to support Ukraine on COVID-19 vaccination. Future deliveries will ensure that as many people as possible receive protection.The Comirnaty vaccine delivery was made possible thanks to financial support from USAID.
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- 28 September 2022
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Two of our Laureates -President Macky Sall and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina- Meet in Dakar to call for Su...
September 17, 2022African Development Bank GroupSenegalese President and African Union chairperson Macky Sall has told development partners of the African Development Fund (ADF) to allow the fund to tap capital markets for more resources to meet the critical development needs of member countries. The African Development Fund is the African Development Bank Group’s concessional lending arm that supports the continent’s low-income countries.Sall said: “These are tough times for governments. We need investment and development. Today, youth are raising their voices, demanding employment. They are impatient. Governments must listen and invest more to create jobs and make African economies more competitive. The African Development Fund needs significant financing and should be allowed to go the capital markets.”The Senegalese leader was speaking to representatives of fund’s regional and non-regional member countries and senior management of the African Development Bank Group, who paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Dakar. The African Development Bank president led the delegation.The African Development Fund representatives were in Dakar for a two-day meeting to discuss the fund’s 16th replenishment.Adesina thanked President Sall for his leadership of the African Union, and for representing the continent at major international events to discuss Africa’s development.The Bank group head spoke about the transformative impact of the African Development Fund, which is marking 50 years since its inception.More ADF resources will help Africa address Covid, Climate, and ConflictSpeaking earlier at the start of the third ADF-16 replenishment meeting, Adesina said a significant addition of resources would help the fund address multiple challenges, notably, the devastating impacts of Covid-19, rising debt and economic vulnerability, a growing climate change disruption, and the threat of a food crisis triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine.“Climate change is decimating the ADF countries, triggering even high pressure for migration to Europe in dangerous waters,” said the bank group chief. He pointed out that nine of the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change are in sub-Saharan Africa, and all are ADF countries.Adesina projected that African Development Fund countries would need $500 billion to adapt to climate change between now and 2030. He said recent data showed that Africa receives only 3% of global climate financing, adding that if this trend continued, the continent’s climate financing gap would reach $100 billion to $127 billion annually through 2030.“ADF will need a lot more resources, far beyond what donors can provide. So, we must ensure leverage to better resource ADF,” said Adesina. He added that if allowed to go to the capital markets, the fund could mobilize an additional $5.5 billion for each of its three-year replenishment cycles.Adesina described the fund a sound and unique institution delivering value for money.“The African Development Fund has connected 15.5 million people to electricity; supported 74 million people with improved agriculture; provided 50 million people with transport; built or rehabilitated 8,700 kilometers of roads; and provided 42 million people with upgraded water and sanitation facilities.”During the meeting with the ADF delegates, President Sall reiterated the need for developed economies to reallocate some of their International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to Africa.President Sall stressed that the African Development Bank, a prescribed holder, is best placed to deploy the SDRs to the continent by the end of this year. Out of the $650 billion announced by the IMF in 2021, African countries were cumulatively allocated just $33 billion.The African Development Bank president has emphasized that the bank can leverage the SDRs by three to four times to deliver more support to African countries. “The bank’s AAA rating allows it to provide finance to African nations at interest rates that are far more attractive than what they can obtain on their own through commercial financing,” he explains. Senegal’s minister of economy, planning and cooperation, Amadou Hott, underscored the African Development Fund’s critical role in helping countries address vulnerability. “A strong mobilization of concessional and mixed resources is more essential than ever to support our countries, support their recovery plans, and meet all the challenges they are facing,” said Hott, who is also the governor of the African Development Bank for Senegal.
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- 20 September 2022
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H.E. President Macky Sall opens MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2022
Sep 2, 2022Energy Capital & PowerHighlighting the need for African unity and the importance of strong partnerships across the continent and globally, H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union, opened this year’s MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2022 conference and exhibition – taking place from September 1-2 this year in Dakar. During his address, H.E. President Macky Sall called for the exploitation of Africa’s gas resources and improved access to development finance for the continent.“In this new configuration of the world, energy resources are major assets for Africa. Therefore, we must not accept that our continent is an object of world geopolitics, but an actor, aware of its natural wealth of interests, which acts on the competition instead of suffering it,” H.E. President Sall stated, adding that, “While remaining committed to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, we must continue to defend the interests of our countries in the run-up to COP27 next November in Egypt.”Calling for a just energy transition that allows Africa the same opportunities afforded to the world’s most industrialized nations, the President discussed enhancing regional partnerships and spurring investment within the MSGBC region, emphasizing the role that megadevelopments within the basin will play in meeting domestic demand while addressing global energy needs.“It would be an aberration to give up the exploitation of our resources while more than 600 million Africans still live in the dark,” the President continued. “We will need to train qualified human resources at all levels to master the knowledge and know-how in the complex field of hydrocarbons, from welders to design engineers, financial experts, and contract specialists, to name just a few areas.”The President concluded his opening address by highlighting the region’s potential to address the global energy crisis while improving the conditions and socioeconomic development of West Africa and the continent as a whole.“Because what counts in the end is that the exploitation of our resources is done in the best conditions of transparency and efficiency, for the improvement of the conditions of our populations and the progress of our countries. This is our duty,” the President concluded.
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- 780
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- 13 September 2022
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100,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine delivered to Ukraine under COVAX
August 23, 2022 World Health OrganizationA total of 100 000 doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Jcovden) were delivered to Ukraine this month under the COVAX initiative, and distributed to 22 regions in the country by the Ministry of Health. “These vaccines will provide further protection against COVID-19 and we are working continuously with the Ministry of Health and health professionals to ensure that people in Ukraine have access to vaccines. WHO urges everybody to use the opportunity to protect themselves and others,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. The COVAX initiative aims to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines against COVID-19 for every country in the world. COVAX is being coordinated by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and WHO. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with manufacturers and partners on the procurement and logistics of COVID-19 vaccines for COVAX.WHO in Ukraine has trained more than 100 medical workers and trainers across the country to conduct further training on the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant]). With support from WHO, Ukrainian health-care workers have received over 23 000 copies of guidance materials on the use of the vaccine, and more are being produced. “We are grateful to our international partners for their support to Ukraine. We know that the coronavirus has not disappeared, and we continue to record growing numbers of new cases of the disease,” said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine and Chief State Sanitary Doctor. “During the war, when people are often forced to be in overcrowded conditions and do not have full access to medical care, protection against COVID-19 with the help of vaccination is especially important.” The Janssen vaccine is intended for people over 18 years old and has been approved for emergency use listing by WHO. In Ukraine, the Janssen vaccine was registered on 2 July 2021.COVID-19 vaccination policy in Ukraine All adults and children over the age of 12 can be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine (age recommendations differ per vaccine). Anyone over the age of 18 may receive a booster dose following the primary vaccination series. People aged 60 and over, as well as those aged 18–59 with conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease are prioritized for a second booster dose.The European Union, GAVI, UNICEF, the United Kingdom, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and WHO continue to support Ukraine on COVID-19 vaccination, and future deliveries will ensure that as many people as possible receive protection.The delivery the Jcovden vaccine was made possible thanks to financial support from the United Kingdom.
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- 763
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- 30 August 2022
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The Royal Society announces this year’s medal and award winners
August 24, 2022The Royal SocietyResearchers, technicians, students and support staff responsible for the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been awarded the Royal Society’s Copley Medal for their rapid development and deployment of a vaccine against Covid-19.This is the first time in the nearly 300-year history of the Copley Medal that it has been awarded to a team.As the latest recipients of the Society’s most prestigious award, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Team will join figures recognised for their exceptional contributions to science, including Louis Pasteur, Dorothy Hodgkin, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell.Accepting the Copley Medal on behalf of the team*, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert DBE, Saïd Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said: “It is wonderful to receive this recognition for the team that developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine. “When work started on the vaccine in 2020, we needed to bring together people with complementary expertise to allow us to move quickly and plan many stages ahead. Many people worked extremely hard for a very long time, and winning this prize lets the whole team know how much their dedication is appreciated.”Other recipients of the Society’s 2022 prizes awarded for their involvement in the Covid-19 pandemic include Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam MBE FMedSci, who receives the David Attenborough Award and Lecture for his public engagement work, and Professor Graham Medley OBE who was awarded the Gabor Medal, in recognition of his team’s epidemiological modelling contributions.The Royal Society introduced two new annual prizes in 2022, celebrating the work of technicians and those who work to improve research culture. A number of winners this year showcase these wider contributions to the scientific effort:University of Nottingham chemistry research technician, Neil Barnes, receives the inaugural Hauksbee Award, in recognition of his role in supporting generations of physical chemists as a research technician, including as a demonstrator on the YouTube chemistry channel, Periodic Videos.Dr Diane Saunders, John Innes Centre, is awarded the Rosalind Franklin Award and Lecture, for her mentoring project to empower female undergraduate and early career researchers in plant sciences.Dr Mark Richards, Imperial College London, is recognised for his commitment to increasing equity in physics through the development of the UK’s first network of Black physicists, the Blackett Lab Family, with the inaugural Royal Society Research Culture Award. The UCL STEM Participation and Social Justice team, is aiming to make STEM more inclusive, accessible and equitable for all young people, and receive the Athena Prize.Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said, “On behalf of the Royal Society, I offer my congratulations to the outstanding researchers, individuals and teams whose contributions to our collective scientific endeavour have helped further our understanding of the world around us.\"Science has always been a team game, and I’m proud to see such a wide array of skills and specialisms reflected in this year’s medals and awards.“From the original ideas that open up new fields, to the team effort that delivered the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, or the vital work of technicians and those opening doors for the next generation of talented researchers – I am proud that we can celebrate outstanding scientific contributions in all their forms.”(The Royal Society)
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- 30 August 2022
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The Elders stress neutrality on Ukraine cannot be an option following Kyiv visit
August 17, 2022The EldersStatement: The Elders call for increased international support for Ukraine and stress that neutrality is not a moral option in the face of continued Russian aggression. Upon their return from Kyiv, Elders Ban Ki-moon and Juan Manuel Santos urged the Ukrainian government to make its case for support in capitals all around the world. Public solidarity from governments, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, is essential to keep the world’s attention on Ukraine’s struggle and bring about an eventual end to Russia’s war.The Elders met President Volodymr Zelenskyy and other senior government figures in Kyiv on Tuesday, 16 August, after visiting the sites of atrocities committed by Russian forces.Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair of The Elders and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, said:“Our visit to Bucha and Irpin left us in no doubt as to the appalling suffering Russia is inflicting on the Ukrainian people, and we condemn in the strongest terms the actions of Russian forces at these sites and elsewhere.”The Elders reiterate their belief that Russia’s war on Ukraine is a moral outrage. They call on the world to strongly resist the normalisation of the war’s horror and injustice and do everything possible to help end Russian aggression.The Ukrainian government’s request for security guarantees that go beyond the failed assurances of the past deserves serious consideration.The Elders also emphasise the central role of the UN itself, pointing to the initial success of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the possibility of UN engagement on nuclear safety concerns at the Zaporizhzhia power plant.Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, said:“It is vital that the 16 million Ukrainian people in need get access to humanitarian assistance, particularly those living in areas not controlled by the Government. The victims of this terrible aggression cannot be ignored. Ukraine also needs sustained financial support to aid reconstruction and recovery.As Elders we are focused on ending and preventing wars, not winning them - our priority is to keep the flame of peace alive. I know from my own experience in Colombia that conflicts and their resolution are unpredictable, but the principle of a just and enduring peace cannot be forgotten. Ukrainians must know people all over the world stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their struggle to determine their own future.”Ban Ki-moon added:“The case for international solidarity with Ukraine needs to be made beyond NATO countries. As Elders from Latin America and Asia, Juan Manuel Santos and I visited Kyiv to emphasise that support for Ukraine comes from all over the world. Ukraine’s fight matters to every country that values its own sovereignty. Neutrality in the face of aggression cannot be an option.”Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Chair of The EldersBan Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and Deputy Chair of The EldersGraça Machel, Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, co-founder and Deputy Chair of The Elders Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the WHOZeid Raad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human RightsHina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and co-chair of the Taskforce on JusticeEllen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace LaureateRicardo Lagos, former President of ChileJuan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace LaureateErnesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico
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- 23 August 2022
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AfDB to deliver certified wheat, seeds to 20m farmers – Adesina
August 10, 2022Blueprint(Picture LEADERSHIP)President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr Akinwumi Adesina says the bank is set to deliver climate-adapted, certified wheat and other staple crops seeds to 20 million farmers. Adesina said this in a document titled, “Averting an African Food Crisis: The African Food Production Facility” and obtained on Monday in Abuja. He said the initiative, which was part of activities by the bank would tackle food crisis in African countries including Nigeria.The president said the delivery of seeds and increased access to agricultural fertilisers would be done through the bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility. Adesina said within the next two years, the facility would allow farmers to produce 38 million additional tonnes of food.He said that part of the plan was a 30 per cent increment in local production worth an estimated 12 billion dollars. He also said that it would facilitate better global investment in Africa’s agricultural sector. Adesina said that the facility would also support enhanced governance and policy reforms. “From the onset, the African Development Bank realised the strategic need to tackle the devastating impact of the war on Africa’s food security. It is important to prevent unrest and even more human suffering. In May, the bank established a 1.5 billion dollar African Emergency Food Production Facility. In less than 60 days, it put into action 1.13 billion dollar-worth of programmes under the facility across 24 African countries. Half a dozen more programmes are expected to get underway by September as more governments apply to the facility,’’ he said.According to him, food aid cannot feed Africa because Africa does not need bowls in hand. “Africa needs seeds in the ground and mechanical harvesters to harvest bountiful food produced locally.“Africa will feed itself with pride because there is no dignity in begging for food.’’ The president said that the African Emergency Food Production Facility had benefited from stakeholder consultations. He said the price of wheat had soared in Africa by more than 45 per cent since the war in Ukraine began. Adesina also said fertiliser prices had gone up by 300 per cent while the continent faced a fertiliser shortage of two million metric tonnes. Many African countries have already seen price hikes in bread and other food items.
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- 16 August 2022
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Invest in Africa, African Development Bank Chief Urges Investors at U.S.- Africa Business Summit
July 21, 2022African Business(출처 Ethiopian Monitor)The President of the African Development Bank Group (https://www.AfDB.org/) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has given strong assurance to U.S. investors that Africa is a secure, competitive and profitable market for investment.Adesina was speaking on Wednesday at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Marrakech where he told American investors to see Africa as a logical investment destination and to engage with the continent in win-win partnerships.He said U.S. investments were critical for accelerating infrastructure development on the continent. “This is an opportune time for American investments in Africa, at scale,” Adesina said. “Tomorrow cannot wait. Africa’s time is now. Africa’s future is bright. We are open for business, and we welcome you with wide open arms.”The U.S. Corporate Council on Africa partnered with Morocco to organize the summit under the theme, ‘Building Forward Together.’ The event brought together global investors and corporate executives. Dignitaries and global leaders included President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris who addressed delegates via a video message. Other dignitaries included Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita; the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Alice Albright; President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, Chakib Ali; and Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the CEO of the African Union Development Agency NEPAD.More than 400 business and government representatives discussed building stronger U.S. and Africa trade, investment and commercial ties.In a video message, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “We are focused on the urgent need to increase food production and exports with and within Africa.” She said public-private partnerships could play a key role in this regard.Harris also recognized the critical importance of strengthening the U.S. relationship with countries across Africa. “President Biden and I are looking forward to welcoming leaders from across the African continent to Washington, DC from December 13th through the 15th, for the United States-Africa Leaders Summit,” she said. Adesina listed some of Africa’s multi-billion investments as proof of the continent’s investment potential. He cited the Dangote Group’s $20 billion petroleum refinery and fertilizer production complex in Nigeria, and South Africa’s MTN Group, which currently operates in 19 markets.The African Development Bank head said that despite the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on economies, the number of private equity deals in Africa increased from 230 in 2019 to 255 by 2020, stressing that even in turbulent times, opportunities still abound in Africa.Adesina spoke about the African Development Bank Group’s investments to help improve livelihoods and economies. He said the Group had committed more than $44 billion to infrastructure across the continent in the last six years alone, most notably in transport, energy, and water and sanitation. But he pointed out that Africa still faced an annual infrastructure financing gap of $68 to $108 billion.The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation’s Alice Albright said: “We are all here and invested in creating more pathways to prosperity across the African continent. Through Prosper Africa – the U.S. Government’s initiative to increase trade and investment and promote sustainable development across the continent – and our collective efforts, we are strengthening partnerships to ensure people on both sides of the Atlantic have the opportunity to create a better life for their children, their families, and their communities, and to realize their full potential. Since launching Prosper Africa two years ago, the U.S. Government has supported 800 two-way trade and investment deals in 45 countries in Africa, worth an estimated $50 billion.“ Adesina invited American businesses to invest in the opportunities created by the African Development Bank Group’s $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility, designed to ease the impact of the current global food crisis, worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The facility, the first of its kind, will help countries purchase and distribute agricultural fertilizer and seeds, provide emergency support over four planting seasons, increase food production by 30%, and create $12 billion worth of food.In his opening speech, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Bourita said that never had the time been more opportune for strengthened cooperation between Africa and the United States than now. He said: “It is time for Africa to reap the fruits of its potentials, play a central and natural role on the international scene; and in major developments taking place at the global level.”
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- 763
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- 2 August 2022
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Gavi opens applications for malaria vaccine rollout support
July 20, 2022Gavi.orgGeneva, 20 July 2022 – The world’s first-ever mass vaccination against malaria was brought a step closer today as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance opened a process for countries to apply for funding and support to roll out the new vaccine.The opening of the application window follows the WHO’s recommendation for wider routine use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in October 2021 and a subsequent decision by the Gavi Board in December 2021 to approve an initial investment of US$ 155.7 million for the 2022–2025 period. Malaria vaccination was additionally supported by a US$ 56 million investment through a “de-risk” agreement with manufacturer GSK and innovative financing partner MedAccess. In recognition of the technical requirements of rollout and the need to provide tailored support to countries, a first application window, which closes 13 September, will be limited to the three countries that have taken part in the vaccine’s multi-year pilot programme: Kenya, Ghana and Malawi.A second window, which opens at the end of the year and closes in January, is open to other countries with moderate to high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These countries can already submit expressions of interest (EoIs) during the first funding window to signal interest and provide them with the needed support to submit quality applications.“The work towards a malaria vaccine has been long and hard,” said Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley. “Today we begin a new chapter: alongside existing interventions, this new tool will allow us to save more lives in countries hit hardest by this killer disease.”The introduction of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine builds on successful implementation pilots and will be the first ever widespread malaria vaccination programme. Alongside currently recommended malaria control interventions – and alongside these existing protections, it could help drive down child mortality in Africa, the continent that bears the heaviest malaria burden. More than 260 000 African children under the age of five years old die from malaria annually, and six Gavi-eligible countries account for 50% of global mortality.“One child dies of malaria every minute in Africa, and we must do everything possible to stop this trend. The new funding opportunity will make the world’s only malaria vaccine more accessible to African children. If delivered to scale, the vaccine will help to prevent millions of cases of malaria, save tens of thousands of lives and ensure a brighter future for the continent,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.Alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) announcement of finalization of the vaccine allocation framework to facilitate transparent and equitable allocation of limited vaccine supplies and UNICEF’s procurement agreement for the RTS,S vaccine, Gavi’s application guidelines (found here) are based on targeted support that will grow as volumes of available doses increase through an expected ramp-up in production.“A vaccine has been the missing piece in the malaria toolkit since UNICEF first took up the fight against malaria decades ago, making this very welcome news,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF\'s supply and procurement headquarters. “We look forward to working with Gavi, WHO and other partners to bring this vaccine to the children who need it.”The Alliance and other partners will also work with countries to provide orientation and technical assistance to ensure quality planning and country readiness in view of future application windows. Applications will be reviewed by the Gavi Independent Review Committee (IRC), and successful applicants will then have a period of implementation planning support before rollout.
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- 2 August 2022
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2022 RELX SDG Inspiration Day: Aspiring to make SDG-16 a reality
July 15, 2022PR NewswireLONDON, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The agenda of Sustainable Development Goal 16, which talks of resolving the challenge around \'Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice,\' seeks to promote a peaceful society and provide equal access to justice to all.RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries, hosted their \'Free Virtual SDG Inspiration Day\' on May 9, 2022. The topics discussed during the session was the role of businesses in furthering the agenda of SDG 16.Sir Bob Geldof, Ban Ki-moon and many prominent key thought leaders discussed how to effectively achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16: “Peace, justice and strong institutions” Credit: RELX groupOrganizations that partnered the event included the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens; UN Global Compact Network UK; Global Citizen, the World Humanitarian Forum; the Responsible Media Forum; Schneider Electric; The Elsevier Foundation, and the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation.The keynote speakers included Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary General of the United Nations and Sir Bob Geldof, legendary musician and political activist. Other speakers included Dr. Heinz Fischer, former President of Austria; Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO; and Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder of Global Citizen. The event was moderated by lawyer and activist Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu.\"All around the world, armed conflicts are causing humanitarian emergencies in countries such as Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Ukraine. We are at a turning point, and we must choose peace,\" encapsulated Secretary Ban Ki-Moon in his keynote address.Several speakers touched upon the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Dr. Heinz Fischer commented, \"The significance and relevance of the SDGs will survive the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and will thrive after the war – particularly SDG 16.\" Former Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova, during her keynote speech, said that the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and impact of food production due to climate change have impacted the 2030 SDGs, and SDG 16 in particular.Sir Bob Geldof said that the biggest challenges facing the SDGs were human cynicism and extreme nationalism. \"However, it is in our self-interest to make the SDGs work. It is in the self-interest of the world; the self-interest of business and politics, and the self-interest of the global economy – all of them will begin by embracing and working to achieve the 2030 SDG goals,\" he said.Several panel discussions were held as part of the event. The first, \'SDG 16 and Defence,\' was moderated by BBC journalist Justin Webb, and had Monika Froehler, CEO, Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens; Dr. Imogen Parsons, Senior Research Fellow, Terrorism and Conflict, The Royal United Services Institute; and Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairman, Global Compact Foundation, as the panellists.The second discussion, \'Operating in a Conflict Zone,\' was moderated by Teresa Jennings, Head of Rule of Law Development, LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation. The panellists included Mark Waddington, CEO, Hope and Homes for Children; Kimberly Parker, Hinari Programme Manager, World Health Organization; Alison Tweed, CEO, Book Aid International; and Geraldine Anup-Willcocks, Emergency Specialist, UNICEF UK.The final discussion was \'Women and SDG 16\', which was moderated by Amanda Ellis, Former UN Ambassador, Executive Director Asia-Pacific, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation. Zoya Lytvyn, Ukrainian entrepreneur, expert in impact investment and education, founder of NGO Osvitoria, Global Teacher Prize Ukraine Award; Martin Chungong, eighth Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU); and Tea Trumbic, WE Empower Lead Partner and Program Manager for the Women, Business and the Law Project, World Bank, were the speakers.
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Oxford’s Plan to Better Prepare for the Next Pandemic
July 8, 2022BloombergHi everyone, it’s James in London. This week I talked to Sarah Gilbert, who led the development of Oxford’s Covid vaccine. She’s now joining other scientists in a new initiative to try to prevent a repeat of all the death, misery and economic turmoil we’ve endured over the past two and a half years. But first...Filling the GapsCovid exposed the vulnerabilities of health systems all over the world, highlighting a need to expand disease surveillance, tackle misinformation and speed up work on vaccines and therapies to fight a slew of both known and unknown pathogens. And while the Oxford-AstraZeneca team, Pfizer and others delivered Covid shots in record time, less affluent regions struggled to gain access as wealthy nations put their own interests first. Production was concentrated in just a handful of countries.Sarah Gilbert is part of a team that’s seeking to fill those gaps and make sure countries are better prepared to deal with the next emergencies. Oxford’s recently minted Pandemic Sciences Institute joins groups such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the World Health Organization’s pandemic intelligence hub and the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority in a bid to stop outbreaks from exploding into global crises.The institute, which hoped to attract more than £500 million ($597 million) in investment when it was unveiled last year, has so far raised about £100 million. The university aims to build on its Covid vaccine with AstraZeneca, one of the first to cross the finish line, and the Recovery trial that helped identify Covid therapies.“Academic institutions such as Oxford have a lot to contribute in the event of a global public health crisis,” Gilbert tells me. The plan is to move “as fast as possible, but there’s still a way to go to complete our fund-raising,” she says.One priority, she says, is widening vaccine manufacturing capacity globally and establishing sites that are ready to ramp up swiftly if needed to respond to a new disease. That would minimize delays and help address inequity. But ensuring investments benefit the regions they’re located in and don’t lead to “white elephants” will be crucial, she says. HERA, the new EU organization, also plans to maintain a network of “ever-warm” manufacturing facilities.“During a pandemic, when vaccine production is located in some countries and not others and everyone wants a vaccine, that’s when we see the problems of nationalism,” Gilbert says. “So we have to prepare for that by making sure we have manufacturing on every continent and in every region.” Africa, she says, is especially important.Working with partners, Gilbert and her colleagues are analyzing the pipeline and aiming to spur development of vaccines and medicines in all the major groups of viruses that are known to infect humans. One target is Nipah virus, which has a fatality rate estimated at 40% to 75% and has sparked outbreaks almost annually in parts of Asia. There’s no vaccine currently available.“The nightmare scenario is a disease with the fatality rate of Nipah virus that is also very highly transmissible,” she says. “We need to stop these outbreaks before the virus gets a chance to evolve.” — James Paton
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- Sunhak Peace Prize
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Future generations refer not only to our own physical descendants
but also to all future generations to come.Since all decisions made by the current generation will either positively
or negatively affect them, we must take responsibility for our actions.
