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Given the urgent need to step up investments to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future global health threats, and with broad support from the G20 and beyond, the World Bank Board of Directors approved the establishment of a Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) on June 30, 2022.
As part of the proceedings, the European Union (EU) facilitated a hybrid donor meeting in Brussels on July 19-20, 2022, to help prepare for the establishment of the FIF. The meeting allowed for exchanges on the objectives and scope of the FIF and its governance and operating framework. Agreement was reached to further engage partner countries, civil society organizations (CSOs), potential implementing entities, and other stakeholders on the FIF’s design in the coming weeks ahead of its launch.
The FIF was officially established by the FIF Governing Board at its inaugural meeting on September 8-9, 2022. The new fund is overseen by a Governing Board, which will set the overall work program and make funding decisions. The FIF’s Governing Board includes equal representation of sovereign donors and potential implementing country governments, as well as representatives from foundations and civil society organizations (CSOs). This reflects the FIF’s commitment to inclusivity and- equity, and to operate with efficiency, agility and high standards of transparency and accountability.
Visit the new website worldbank.org/pandemicfund to find out more.
The World Bank and WHO will intensify their work with the Governing Board in consultation with CSOs and other stakeholders, to operationalize the fund and develop the FIF results framework and priorities in the run up to the first call for proposals in November 2022.
CSO Consultation for the PPR FIF
The Interim Secretariat for the PPR FIF is pleased to share with you the details, as below, of the official CSO consultation process on the FIF.
The donors tasked with CSO consultation (the Wellcome Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation) are working with the Pandemic Action Network (PAN), the Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS and Health Service Organisations (EANNASO), Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), and WACI Health to convene such consultations.
Two global CSO consultations were held on August 16 and 17, 2022. These first two sessions were focused on the topics of the FIF governance framework, civil society engagement, and the Technical Advisory Panel. You can find here a summary of the proceedings and key messages.
The next set of CSO consultations were held on August 30 and 31, 2022 at various times. These dates and times were set to engage partners from multiple geographies and in multiple languages. The focus of these sessions was the same, covering the FIF scope and priorities.
Background on the PPR FIF
The FIF aims to help low and middle-income countries strengthen PPR and fill existing capacity gaps in core domains of the International Health Regulations (2005) at country level, as well as at regional and global levels.
The proposed fund will complement existing financing efforts and institutions and will have the flexibility to work through strong implementing institutions, drawing on their comparative strengths. The FIF is expected to bring additional, long-term, dedicated resources for PPR, incentivize countries to increase investments in PPR, and enhance coordination among partners. While ensuring inclusivity, the FIF’s design will be underpinned by simple and agile governance and operating arrangements.