A new era dawns for GAVI, as board underlines strategic shift towards country ownership and increased support for the most vulnerable By Hope Mafaranga

 A new era dawns for GAVI, as board underlines strategic shift towards country ownership and increased support for the most vulnerable   

By Hope Mafaranga

 

The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance today concluded its final meeting before the start of Gavi’s next strategic period from 2026 to 2030 (Gavi 6.0), taking a series of decisions that will further place country ownership at the heart of the Gavi model, increase focus on protecting the most vulnerable despite financial constraints, and support expanding equitable access to key vaccines. 

 

In a major strategic shift that further centers country ownership, nearly 90% of the budget available to Gavi for vaccine procurement in its next strategic period will be allocated directly to countries through “country vaccine budgets”.

 

In a time of financial constraints, countries will have full control of how to optimise and prioritise immunisation programmes per their national strategies and context. 

 

By shifting away from rolling applications, country vaccine budgets ensure countries that apply more quickly do not have an advantage in terms of access to Gavi financing.

 

They also mean that all countries have an advance view of resources available for the next five years  and can clearly identify in advance areas to supplement with domestic financing.

 

“Through the Gavi Leap, we are putting in place an ambitious programme of reforms that will enable countries to have increased agency and ownership over use of resources and decreased administrative burden, which will help our Alliance achieve its programmatic objectives.

 

These changes are well on their way to implementation, with grant management reform – a key pillar of the Gavi Leap – already in place and a year-long Secretariat review that will see our headcount reduce by 33% now complete.

 

I want to thank the Board for their support and guidance as we migrate to our new country-centric operating model and pay tribute to José Manuel Barroso for his leadership as Chair of the Gavi Board over the past five years,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

 

Building on an earlier decision, Gavi’s Board also finalised an approach to further sharpen the Alliance’s focus on the most vulnerable. Gavi will overall increase its support for fragile and conflict-affected settings by 15% compared to its last five-year strategic period, despite cuts elsewhere.

 

 As a result, more than a third of Gavi’s overall funding for countries will be focused on the 25% most vulnerable children. Allocations for country vaccine budgets will also prioritise the lowest income countries with the highest number of deaths amongst children under five.

 

 A new agile funding mechanism, called the Gavi Resilience Mechanism, will provide flexible support to countries and partners in fragile and humanitarian settings around the world.

 

The Board also provisionally approved the addition of nine-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to Gavi’s portfolio of offerings to countries  signalling Gavi’s continued commitment to fighting cervical cancer.

 

Gavi’s ambitious push to revitalise the HPV programme has saved more than a million lives. The Board also agreed to add vaccines against tuberculosis, mpox, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to the list of priority antigens supported by Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a financing mechanism dedicated to supporting efforts to build sustainable regional manufacturing on the African continent.  

 

New approach aligns ambitions with available resources 

Gavi’s Board also finalised decisions designed to recalibrate its ambitious strategy in line with available resources, which are estimated to reach US$ 10 billion for the next five years.

 

In order to protect funding for country vaccine budgets, the Board agreed to reduce Gavi’s financial forecast for global stockpiles by US$ 200 million and halve the US$ 200 million budget set aside for vaccine procurement contingencies.

 

It also agreed that US$ 100 million in co-financing waivers for fragile & conflict-affected countries would be financed through a separate pot set aside for funding work in these settings.

 

Building on decisions made at its June 2025 meeting, the Board also agreed on a final set of programmatic choices that will reduce the overall cost of procuring vaccines for the next strategic period.

 

 

These savings will be achieved by better targeting introductions and campaigns across several vaccine programmes. In June 2025, the Board agreed that Gavi will introduce country co-financing requirements for preventive campaigns, in line with those currently implemented for routine vaccine programmes.

 

To ensure a smooth transition in 2026, the Board has now approved a one-year waiver of these co-financing requirements for preventive campaigns in the lowest-income countries. 

 

Board Chair reflects on an unprecedented period in Gavi’s history 

This week also represented the final meeting presided over by Board Chair Professor José Manuel Barroso. 

 

Appointed in 2020, Professor Barroso began his term in 2021 and has led the Gavi Board for the entirety of the organisation’s current five-year strategic period. As former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Portugal, Professor Barroso played a critical role in steering Gavi as it delivered on its objectives for Gavi 5.0 while co-leading a historic global emergency vaccine response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Reflecting on his five years leading Gavi, Prof. José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, said: “As Gavi nears the end of its fifth strategy period, it is possible to look back at the last five years with a historic sense of accomplishment in a period marked by redefined multilateralism in a multipolar world.

 

 More than ever the Gavi model of public private partnership is fit for purpose and can serve as a blueprint for future initiatives. As we look ahead to the next period starting in January, Gavi is in a strong position: not just to protect more children than ever before but to help shape a new model where countries themselves drive their own vaccination agenda and achieve the Alliance overall goal of protecting our future and strengthening country self-reliance.

 

 As my tenure as Chair draws to a close, I want to thank all of Gavi’s stakeholders for the role they have played in our collective success, and wish my successor, the Rt Hon Helen Clark my very best wishes in her new role”. 

 

During its fifth strategic period from 2021 to 2025, Gavi exceeded the target of achieving a 10% reduction in under-five mortality in supported countries, is ahead of schedule to meet the target of 300 million children immunised against a range of diseases, and is on track to reach its targets of 7-8 million deaths averted and US$ 80 billion generated in economic savings.

 

 In 2024 alone, Gavi-supported vaccination programmes saved at least 1.7 million lives in 2024, the highest number recorded in a single year. Critical new efforts to introduce malaria vaccines and revitalise HPV vaccination programmes against cervical cancer also achieved their targets.

 

While delivering on these goals, the Alliance also helped the world respond to infectious disease emergencies – supporting an unprecedented number of outbreak response efforts, delivering 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to 146 countries via COVAX, and enabling recovery of routine immunisation coverage after the pandemic through “the Big Catch-Up” campaign.   

 

Helen Clark named as new Chair of the Gavi Board

 

Helen Clark named as new Chair of the Gavi Board

	The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance  on October 6, 2025  appointed Rt Hon Helen Clark as its new Chair, beginning in January 2026.   Helen Clark served as Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008. Following her departure from the New Zealand Parliament in 2009, she served two terms as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, completing her tenure in 2017. She is currently a President of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London and has served on a range of other public good boards and commissions.   The appointment follows an eight-month search process that considered a total of 240 candidates for the role. The Gavi Board’s Search Committee cited Clark’s deep experience at the top of national and international government, her experience chairing multistakeholder organisations similar to Gavi, as well as her track record as a leader and mentor.   “I am honoured to be selected as the next Chair of Gavi. For 25 years, Gavi has worked to protect children from preventable disease and thereby helped countries grow, prosper and become more self-sufficient. The coming years will bring many challenges for Gavi, but also huge opportunities, and I am excited to play a role in helping it meet its most ambitious goals yet. I am also honoured to succeed José Manuel, who has led Gavi for the past five years,” Helen Clark said.   When she assumes the role of Chair in January 2026, Clark will replace Professor José Manuel Barroso, who served two terms as Gavi Chair from 2021–2025. During his tenure, Professor Barroso helped steer the organisation through first the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently Gavi’s efforts to restore coverage of routine immunisation. He also oversaw a period of Gavi’s history in which malaria vaccinations were introduced for the first time, HPV vaccines were dramatically scaled up, and marked progress was made reaching zero-dose children.   “When I joined Gavi in 2021, the world was in throes of the world’s worst public health crisis in a hundred years. I have been humbled to serve as Chair over the subsequent five years as Gavi helped to deliver two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, restore routine immunisation coverage and introduce powerful new tools such as the malaria vaccine. While I look back with pride, I can also look forward with confidence, as Helen has an excellent track record as a leader and as a champion of global health, development, and many other issues central to Gavi’s mission,” said José Manuel Barroso.   During his two terms as Board Chair, Professor Barroso oversaw the transition of leadership of the Secretariat, culminating in the appointment of Dr Sania Nishtar as Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. Professor Barroso also oversaw Gavi’s successful replenishment, securing funding for Gavi’s next strategic period, starting in 2026. Helen Clark will be joining Gavi at the beginning its sixth five-year strategic period. Among the priorities for Gavi during this time will be an increased focus on improving immunisation services in fragile and conflict-affected regions and countries, as well as executing a reform programme, the Gavi Leap, that was initiated in 2025 with a view to placing the countries Gavi supports at the heart of its operating model.   “Helen is a respected global leader whose knowledge and experience will be of tremendous value to Gavi as we navigate our next strategic period. I am delighted to welcome her as our next Chair of the Board, and I look forward to working with her closely as we seek to meet our most ambitious goals yet, said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “I also want to express my most sincere appreciation to José Manuel, for steering Gavi with great skill through some of the most challenging times in its history. José Manuel leaves Gavi in an excellent position to address the challenges ahead and we are grateful that he will continue to be a friend and supporter.”

Gavi’s immunisation programmes deliver a major economic boost to countries

 Gavi’s immunisation programmes deliver a major economic boost to countries, with nearly US$20 billion in economic benefits generated in 2024 alone

By Hope Mafaranga

 

 Vaccination programmes in lower-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance saved at least 1.7 million lives in 2024, the highest number recorded in a single year, according to Gavi’s Annual Progress Report published today.

 

The number of lives saved 400,000 more than in 2023 was one highlight in a strong year for immunisation across Gavi-supported countries, with significant progress also made in immunising children in some of the world’s most conflict-afflicted countries.

 

The impact generated by immunisation extended beyond public health. In 2024, Gavi countries garnered nearly US$20 billion in economic benefits as a result of having healthier populations, reduced healthcare costs and more productive communities. Since Gavi was established in 2000, immunisation has generated a massive US$280 billion in economic returns, clear evidence that vaccines support stability and growth.

 

This solid foundation, in turn, has enabled countries to increasingly assume greater responsibility of their immunisation programmes, with countries paying a record US$255 million towards the cost of their own vaccines in 2024.

 

“Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective interventions in development, not just in terms of protecting human health but in helping economies to grow and communities to thrive. The record-breaking progress achieved in 2024 is testament to continued commitment from implementing countries and our donors to protect lives and keep our world safe from deadly yet preventable diseases,” said Jose Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board. 

 

Historic year for malaria vaccinations, immunisation in conflict zones

The past year also saw the fastest routine vaccine rollout in the Alliance’s history: the world’s first malaria vaccines, first deployed widely in 2024, and now protecting millions of children across 23 African countries representing more than 70% of the world’s malaria burden.

 

 Beyond malaria, 2024 saw a rise in coverage across all vaccines supported by Gavi, including in some of the most challenging environments - fragile and conflict-affected settings where health systems are under strain and access is limited. Eight of the twelve countries Gavi classifies as experiencing fragility and conflict saw gains in basic immunisation coverage, including major improvements in countries like Mali, Syria and Haiti.

 

This upward trend reflects a growing national commitment to immunization, backed by increased investments from Gavi in reaching the most vulnerable communities in fragile and humanitarian settings. However, conflict-affected countries like Sudan and Yemen saw major declines, underscoring the challenges of protecting children and communities in these settings.

 

“Every person – no matter how hard to reach – should have access to the lifesaving power of vaccines. That vision is both very simple and immensely complex to bring to life. The historic progress we have made towards this goal is thanks to incredible commitment from governments, health care workers and communities all over the world,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi.

 

 “As we look to the end of the decade, Gavi will continue to be a steadfast partner in this effort, engaging our donors to ensure we are fully funded and implementing our ambitious Gavi Leap reform programme, so that together we can protect more children, against more diseases, than ever before.”

 

Since 2000, the wide-reaching impact of immunisation has helped reshape the future of health and health security: protecting lives, strengthening systems, and advancing equity.

 

Today, over 1.2 billion unique children have been immunized against a range of deadly diseases through routine immunisation, surpassing Alliance goals ahead of schedule. Beyond routine vaccinations, more than 2.1 billion vaccinations have been delivered through preventive campaigns, protecting communities from deadly diseases, while hundreds of outbreak response efforts have swiftly contained emerging threats before they could escalate and cut potential cases and deaths by nearly 60%. Together these efforts have prevented at least 20.6 million deaths between 2000 and 2024.

 

“Even in the face of strained health systems, conflicts, insecurity, poverty and inequality, Gavi keeps showing that progress on vaccination is possible when there is strong partnership with countries and partners including WHO," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. This commitment to immunization for all is protecting generations of children against life-threatening diseases and helping communities thrive. Looking ahead, sustained investment, collaboration and trust will be essential to ensure immunization remains a cornerstone of global health action and equity.”

 

Leaping into the future

These achievements reflect both the scale of Gavi’s collaboration with public and private sector partners around the world, as well as sustained commitment to immunization.

 

Most importantly, it reflects the leadership of countries who continue to prioritise the health and well-being of their population. In its next strategic period, Gavi is focused on expanding its country-led approach through its Gavi Leap reform programme, to make immunisation programmes even more responsive to the unique needs of each country, region and community and to generate greater synergies with partners - driving efficiency and improving delivery at the last mile.

 

 

Ebola outbreak confirmed in DRC

Democratic Republic of the Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province

By Hope Mafaranga 

Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported as of 4 September 2025.

The outbreak has affected Bulape and Mweka health zones in Kasai Province where health officials have been carrying out investigations after the cases and the deaths reported presented with symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage. Samples tested on 3 September at the country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa confirmed the cause of the outbreak as Ebola Zaire caused by Ebola virus disease.   

A national Rapid Response Team joined by World Health Organization (WHO) experts in epidemiology, infection prevention and control, laboratory and case management has been deployed to Kasai Province to rapidly strengthen disease surveillance, treatment and infection prevention and control in health facilities. Provincial risk communication experts have also been deployed to reach communities and help them understand how to protect themselves.

Additionally, WHO is delivering two tonnes of supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies. The area is difficult to reach, taking at least one day of driving from Tshikapa (the provincial capital of Kasai), with few air links.   

“We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Banking on the country’s long-standing expertise in controlling viral disease outbreaks, we’re working closely with the health authorities to quickly scale up key response measures to end the outbreak as soon as possible.”   

Case numbers are likely to increase as the transmission is ongoing. Response teams and local teams will work to find the people who may be infected and need to receive care, to ensure everyone is protected as quickly as possible.    

The country has a stockpile of treatments, as well as 2000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, effective to protect against this type of Ebola, already prepositioned in Kinshasa that will be quickly moved to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers.   

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s last outbreak of Ebola virus disease affected the north-western Equateur province in April 2022. It was brought under control in under three months thanks to the robust efforts of the health authorities. In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008. In the country overall, there have been 15 outbreaks since the disease was first identified in 1976.    

Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. It is transmitted to people through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats (thought to be the natural hosts). Human-to-human transmission is through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, objects that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola.

First mosquito observatory network to be launched in Africa

 First mosquito observatory network to be launched in Africa

 By Hope Mafaranga

The University of Glasgow, in partnership with leading research institutes across Africa and Europe, is spearheading the first interconnected observatory network for mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases in Africa.

 

The new transformative initiative, which will be called VectorGrid-Africa, is backed by €6.1 million from the EU’s HORIZON/EDCTP programme and will initially focus on five countries in the east and southern areas of Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Madagascar.

 

The team of scientists behind the initiative hope the project will improve our understanding of mosquito-borne diseases in the region and will focus on the spread of known mosquito species, as well as undetected and unknown species.

 

The initiative will create the first-ever large-scale, open-access, high-quality dataset on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases in the region and will support rapid detection of invasive species, emerging pathogens and genetic changes.

 

VectorGrid-Africa will also directly strengthen mosquito control and disease-risk forecasting in the region, where the fight against mosquito-borne diseases is currently hampered by the absence of comprehensive, long-term, and high-quality datasets. This lack of information hinders scientists’ overall understanding of how diseases are transmitted, along with the impact other factors have on disease spread, including climate change, deforestation, urbanisation and mosquito control interventions such as insecticide.

 

Managed by local African institutions to ensure the network is sustainable in the long term, the observatory, in local monitoring sites, will collect data on mosquito densities, species diversity, host preferences, transmitted diseases, and genomic variations, including insecticide resistance, alongside critical climatic, human, and other environmental factors.

 

VectorGrid-Africa will also train African scientists to perform advanced entomological and genomic analyses on site, avoiding the need to send any samples abroad.

 

Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) advocates for surveillance as a core intervention against vector-borne diseases, most low-income countries lack the financial and technical capacity to implement this on a large scale. The VectorGrid initiative will seek to address this by collating data on a range of mosquito-borne diseases across five countries in Africa.

 

Professor Fredros Okumu, VectorGrid-Africa principal investigator and Professor of Vector Biology at the University of Glasgow, said, “The University of Glasgow, along with all our collaborators, is thrilled to see the launch of VectorGrid-Africa, which is an important step forward in monitoring mosquito-borne disease transmission in Africa.

 

“The work of the initiative, not just in tracking invasive mosquito species and monitoring natural mutations, is pivotal to long-term vector control efforts and to better understanding insecticide resistance and transmission dynamics.”

 

Dr Ally Olotu, Director of Science at the Ifakara Health Institute, said, "The establishment of the VectorGrid-Africa observatory network is a monumental step forward in our battle against mosquito-borne diseases across East and Southern Africa. By strengthening in-country capacity to collect, analyse, and interpret high-quality, standardised data on mosquitoes and pathogens, we are not only addressing a critical gap in surveillance but also empowering our own scientists to drive solutions.

 

“This initiative will provide invaluable insights for Tanzania and the wider region, enabling us to better understand transmission dynamics, anticipate the impacts of climate change, and develop more effective, localised interventions to safeguard public health."

 

The power behind me: How my mentors shaped the professional i am today

 

By Hope Mafaranga

If you see me thriving today navigating complex conversations, telling untold stories, or stepping into leadership with clarity and confidence it’s not because I walked alone.

My journey has been anchored, nurtured, and propelled by five phenomenal mentors: Declan Okpalaeke, Jacqueline Asiimwe, Joan Mugenzi, Barbra Kaija, and Dr. Charles Wendo.

Each of them came into my life at different seasons, and each left a permanent mark, not just on my career, but on my character, values, and vision. Today, I celebrate them.

Declan Okpalaeke: The Investigative Firestarter

Declan didn’t just shape me into a better journalist, he made me fearless. As one of Africa’s finest investigative journalists, his mentorship challenged me to dig deeper, question harder, and write with purpose.

He taught me to think like a watchdog and to use journalism not just to inform, but to reform. Declan pushed me to elevate my storytelling, sharpen my facts, and never settle for mediocrity. I owe my boldness in the newsroom to him.

Jacqueline Asiimwe: The Purpose-Driven Pathfinder

Jacqueline’s mentorship helped me find alignment between my career and my calling. She’s not only a fierce advocate for justice and gender equity she’s a living embodiment of courageous leadership.

From her, I’ve learned that integrity isn’t optional, that values must lead every decision, and that it’s okay to lead with heart. Jacqueline continues to inspire me to take up space boldly, speak up for the voiceless, and never shrink myself to fit outdated systems.

Joan Mugenzi: The Inner Work Whisperer

When the world gets too loud or the pressure too much, I hear Joan’s voice urging me to return to my center. A masterful coach and strategic thinker, Joan helped me realize that leadership is as much about self-awareness as it is about skill. She taught me to slow down, reflect, and lead from a place of wholeness. Thanks to her, I understand the power of resilience, clarity, and protecting my peace while pursuing purpose.

Barbra Kaija: The Editorial Trailblazer

Barbra has been a beacon in my journalism journey. As Uganda’s first female Editor-in-Chief, her story alone is enough to inspire. But it’s her quiet strength, razor-sharp editorial eye, and commitment to ethical storytelling that shaped my newsroom discipline.

Barbra believed in my voice even before I fully did. She raised the bar and taught me that good journalism is not just about speed—it’s about depth, accuracy, and impact. She helped me see the weight of the stories we tell.

Dr. Charles Wendo: The bridge between science and storytelling

Dr. Wendo brought a new dimension to my craft—science journalism. His mentorship made the complex simple, the technical accessible, and the scientific deeply human. With his guidance, I learned how to connect facts to feelings, and evidence to everyday life.

He showed me how journalism can serve public health, climate action, and innovation. Dr. Wendo challenged me to grow beyond my comfort zone and trust my ability to engage with complex subjects without losing clarity or empathy.

Each of these mentors offered me something unique—Declan sharpened my edge, Jacqueline anchored my values, Joan nurtured my resilience, Barbra modeled excellence, and Dr. Wendo expanded my range.

So, when I rise, I rise with their voices in my head, their lessons in my hands, and their belief in my spirit.

And that is the kind of legacy only great mentors leave behind.