New Pandemic Fund grants to help bolster pandemic preparedness and response for countries of the Americas – PAHO/WHO
PAHO will support countries in the implementation of critical resources to finance disease surveillance, early warning systems and other key projects in ten countries of the Region
Washington DC October 23, 2024 (PAHO) – As part of its second round of funding, launched on October 18, 2024, the pandemic background (PF) has approved five new projects for Latin America and the Caribbean, aimed at improving countries’ preparation for future pandemics.
The projects selected by the multilateral financing mechanism will benefit ten countries in the region (Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago and six Eastern Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). The grants, totaling $84.1 million, will be used to improve disease surveillance and early warning systems, improve laboratories, and develop the health workforce, among other key activities.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will play an active role in supporting four of the five new projects as an implementing entity, collaborating closely with government actors and other implementation partners and key stakeholders.
“This financing represents a critical investment to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. “Our region was hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 mox outbreak, and continues to face substantial risks from the emergence and re-emergence of pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential, as illustrated by the current virus outbreak. of Oropouche disease. ”he added.
The Pandemic Fund received a total of 146 proposals during its second call, with funding requests totaling $4.6 billion, almost 10 times the available budget of $500 million. In total, 23 projects were approved worldwide, with a total allocation of $418 million. In September 2024, the Fund allocated another $128.89 million to five projects addressing the ongoing mox outbreak in Africa.
“While the funds allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean will be critical, they represent only 20% of the total funds requested, highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable financing for pandemic preparedness in our region” said Dr. Barbosa.
The Pandemic Fund is a catalytic financing mechanism that provides important resources to advance pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) capabilities, while incentivizing greater investment in PPR. It is part of a broader movement towards more sustainable PPR funding for national and global health security.
Hosted by the World Bank, the Pandemic Fund has already supported four projects in the Americas in its first round of funding, totaling $45 million in grant funds.
A third call for proposals is expected to be launched during the first quarter of 2025.
