The Pandemic Fund

The Pandemic Fund held an emergency Board meeting on Friday, September 6, 2024, to discuss how best to respond to the ongoing mpox outbreak. Mpox was declared as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (“PHECS”) by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on August 13, 2024, and as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (“PHEIC”) by the WHO on August 14, 2024. 

The Board unanimously recognized that the outbreak demonstrated the need and relevance of the Pandemic Fund and its emphasis on strengthening capacities and capabilities that are critical in preparedness to tackling health security threats including disease surveillance, diagnostics and laboratory networks, and health workforce in low- and middle-income countries.

The Board agreed on two main outcomes. Firstly, underscoring the need to act with speed and efficiency to address the current mpox outbreak, the Board agreed to fast-tracking support, over the next two to three weeks, to countries affected by the virus. This support will build on existing processes and projects submitted by affected countries under the current $500 million second Call for Proposals with a focus to directly strengthen country preparedness capacities in surveillance, laboratories, and public health workforce. 

Secondly, the Board further agreed on the need to develop a mechanism for special financing to accelerate support to countries experiencing public health emergencies, including for mpox in key areas identified by the WHO draft Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and the joint WHO-Africa CDC Continental Preparedness and Response Plan, ensuring alignment with the Pandemic Fund’s medium-term Strategic Plan. 

The Board noted that the support provided to mpox affected countries and those at risk will be critical not only to the rapid containment of mpox but more broadly, to achieving the Pandemic Fund’s mission to build the capacity of low- and middle-income countries to prevent, prepare for, and be ready to respond rapidly and in a timely manner to emerging disease threats. 

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