AfDB Becomes Implementing Entity of Pandemic Fund, Strengthening Africa’s Health Systems

As an implementing entity, the African Development Bank will play a critical role in providing oversight and implementation support for beneficiary organizations.

The African Development Bank Group has signed an agreement to serve as an implementing entity of the Pandemic Fund, furthering its role in enhancing healthcare infrastructure and response capacity across Africa. This development allows the Bank to oversee the financing of approved projects and participate in the Fund's upcoming call for proposals, scheduled to launch next month.

Strengthening Africa's Pandemic Preparedness

The financial procedures agreement, signed in January with the World Bank Group—acting as a trustee for the Pandemic Fund—qualifies the African Development Bank to access a share of the $500 million in financing allocated for pandemic-related programs, projects, and policies. These investments will target low- and middle-income countries, ensuring improved health preparedness and resilience.

The Pandemic Fund, a global initiative involving donor countries, co-investors, foundations, and civil society organizations, is hosted by the World Bank, with the World Health Organization serving as the technical lead. It aims to assist countries in strengthening their healthcare systems and bolstering investments to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics.

Addressing Gaps in Health Infrastructure

Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development at the African Development Bank, highlighted the importance of this collaboration:

"There is growing demand from African countries for support to overcome gaps in national health infrastructure exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises. As a Pandemic Fund implementing entity, the African Development Bank is capitalizing on our experience combining infrastructure financing with complementary support to improve the quality of life for the people of Africa."

Upcoming Call for Proposals

The Fund's call for proposals will roll out in two phases:

• March 2025: Open to single and multi-country proposals.
• June 2025: Open to regional proposals.

Since its inception, the Pandemic Fund has financed two calls for proposals and approved 47 projects impacting 75 countries across six regions worldwide. On average, 43% of the Fund's resources have been allocated to sub-Saharan Africa—the region with the highest demand for grants. In the second call for proposals, over half of the awarded funds went to sub-Saharan Africa.

The Bank's Role in Project Oversight and Execution

As an implementing entity, the African Development Bank will play a critical role in providing oversight and implementation support for beneficiary organizations. Additionally, the Bank will be responsible for submitting financial and progress reports to the Pandemic Fund's Governing Board. This collaboration aligns with the Bank's Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa, which aims to enhance healthcare infrastructure and improve health outcomes continent-wide.

Recent Healthcare Investments and Future Plans

The African Development Bank has been actively investing in healthcare initiatives. In June 2023, it approved approximately $124 million to expand healthcare access in Morocco. This financing supported Morocco's Program to Support Inclusive Access to Healthcare Infrastructure, which:

• Enhanced specialized healthcare services in women and children's centers.
• Funded hospital construction and equipment.
• Expanded telemedicine and teleconsultation facilities for remote areas.

Dr. Dunford emphasized that continued collaboration with the Pandemic Fund will ensure that more Africans experience the benefits of strengthened healthcare systems:

"As Africa's premier financial institution, we are ready to provide relevant support to beneficiary implementing organizations, regional member countries, and regional economic communities in the Pandemic Fund's third call for proposals. The Bank will leverage resources from the Fund, alongside our own funding instruments, for bigger and better results."

A Commitment to Strengthened Health Systems

The Pandemic Fund was established in September 2022, with the African Development Bank initially participating as an observer before its formal inclusion in November 2022 at the G20 meetings in Bali, Indonesia. Now, as an implementing entity, the Bank is poised to drive significant improvements in healthcare infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, and overall health security across Africa.