Coronavirus Global Response
Yesterday (June 27th,2020) ‘Global Goal: Unite for our Future’ Summit brought an additional €6.15 billion of funding under the Coronavirus Global Response, bringing the total pledged under the initiative since 4 May to almost €16 billion.
‘Team Europe’ contributed significantly to the success of the pledging summit – the European Commission, EU Member States, the European Investment Bank, as well as the Croatian Presidency of the EU.
The political and financial pledges made today are broken down as follow:
Government Commitments:
G-7:
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank committed €4.9 billion in loans and guarantees to support the world's most fragile economies in recovering from coronavirus and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Canada has pledged $120 million CAD for the ACT-Accelerator, and $180 million CAD for COVID-19 humanitarian and development aid. France stressed the need to speed up the design and production of diagnostic, treatment and vaccine resources and to guarantee safe, equitable and universal access to these vital means of fighting the pandemic. Germany committed €383 million to support the COVID-19 response. Of this funding, €150 million is earmarked for the Global Fund's Response Mechanism, and €233 million will be going to organizations helping people in developing countries cope with the impacts of the pandemic. Italy will continue to support cooperative actions, international solidarity and the global response to defeat COVID-19. Japan committed to international cooperation, and to ensure vulnerable and developing nations are prioritized during the pandemic. The United Kingdom committed to ensuring a future vaccine is truly available to all. The United States committed $545 million USD towards COVID-19 relief efforts.
Other Nation States:
Bangladesh has committed $50,000 to the development of vaccines. Barbados asks that the world come together in solidarity, calling on nations to consider the needs and ensure access for the nations of the Caribbean. Belgium committed €11.5 million to the World Food Programme and €4 million EUR to the WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Denmark has committed $16 million DKK to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) committed $25 million USD over five years towards multisectoral human capital development, which will support critical COVID-19 relief efforts across West Africa. $15 million USD of this funding will be for education and skills development, and $10 million USD for human capital. El Salvador calls for international solidarity, by committing to join efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Finland committed €6 million at Global Goal: Unite for Our Future; pledging €3 million to Education Cannot Wait, and €3 million towards The World Food Programme. Greece committed to be on the forefront of the fight to make the vaccine a global public good and accessible to all. Iceland committed to the equitable distribution and access to vaccines for everyone, everywhere. India, as the world's foremost producer of vaccines, with a proven capacity to supply quality medicines at low cost and considerable scientific research team, stands ready to contribute to global health efforts. Israel committed to global cooperation to ensure access to vaccines, treatments and testing, with a special focus on Africa. The State of Kuwait also reaffirmed its commitment to support all international efforts aimed at expediting the process of manufacturing the vaccine and ensuring its fair distribution to those in need. Lithuania stressed the importance of global solidarity and cooperation to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostic, treatment and healthcare. The Government of Luxembourg committed €800,000 towards the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator. Malta committed to equitable allocation of the vaccines to ensure that it reaches everyone, once it becomes available. Mexico has committed to focus efforts on the world's most vulnerable groups and on equitable distribution of vaccines. Netherlands has committed €25 million towards equitable vaccines. New Zealand committed to efforts that developing countries have access to vaccines where they need them to protect their communities. Nigeria committed to support the global efforts in ensuring health security in an equitable manner. Norway committed $10 million USD to Gavi's Advance Market Commitment for COVID-19 Vaccines to ensure tests, treatments and vaccines are available to everyone. The State of Qatar pledged $10 million USD to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO, powered by the UN Foundation. Republic of Korea committed to ensuring universal access to vaccines and therapeutics. The Russian Federation expressed the readiness to supply the global market with direct antiviral agents, products, tests and vaccines. Saint Vincent and Grenadines called for a fair and effective allocation of resources and vaccines. Saudi Arabia has committed to the global effort to ensure that everyone in the world has access to COVID-19 testing, treatments and therapeutics. Serbia committed €100,000 to CEPI for vaccine research and development. Singapore looks forward to working multilaterally to promote a coordinated global response to develop effective vaccines quickly and ensure their fair and expeditious distribution to all. Slovakia commits to standing together with other countries to overcome COVID-19. Slovenia committed to transparent and inclusive international policies towards development, manufacturing and distribution of vaccines and medicines. South Africa committed to support global diagnostic and therapeutic supply chains, access to global care and therapeutics, and to ensure no country is left behind. Spain committed €10 million to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP). Sweden committed €46 million to support the leadership and guidance of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the WHO
Switzerland committed €20 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), The World Food Programme and UNICEF.
Philanthropic Commitments:
The FIFA Foundation committed to The Global Fund in support of its COVID-19 response, helping to ensure low- and middle-income countries have access to health services. This marks the start of a longer-term partnership to fight the impact of COVID-19, save lives, and protect hard-won gains in the fight against HIV, TB and Malaria. Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance will receive in-kind support from TransferWise, whose support will allow people from around the world to contribute towards their Advance Market Commitment for COVID-19 vaccines, as well as funding from a private foundation whose support will ensure life-saving vaccines reach those who need them most. The Minderoo Foundation in Australia committed $5 million AUD to the International COVID-19 Data Alliance – a collaboration through the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator with the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, HDR UK and other partners to ensure the world's medical researchers share vital knowledge, not only for COVID-19 but future pandemics and other diseases. The Rockefeller Foundation committed to increase their investment in data driven global COVID-19 response efforts by $50 million USD to ensure that everyone, especially the world's most vulnerable, has equal access to COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccines. Usher announced that he will donate his proceeds from his I CRY record, performed for the very first time during the Global Goal: Unite for Our Future concert, to LISC, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a core Global Goal: Unite for Our Future campaign partner. Wallace Global Fund (WGF) committed 20% of its endowment this year to address the unprecedented challenges the world faces as a result of the global pandemic. WGF also announced its partnership with Global Citizen's Give While You Live campaign, challenging peers in philanthropy to double their own giving to support resilience and relief efforts at the nexus of systems change, infrastructural development, and equitable health and energy access. A private donor committed $10 million USD in funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the African Regional Office (AFRO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in their efforts to fight COVID-19 with a focus on women and girls.
Corporate Commitments:
Verizon, as part of Global Goal: Unite for our Future, has strengthened its long time commitment to education through a $1 million USD pledge to Education Cannot Wait. As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a more important time to provide critical tools to the teachers and students who need it most.
Vodafone has committed to vastly expand their networks, reaching millions of people worldwide through the installation of 11,000 additional 4G sites. This increased technology will help support the SDGs by providing additional network access to essential education initiatives.