Thousands of Children Vaccinated Thanks to a New Partnership between Gavi and Monaco

M. Gilles Tonelli Conseiller de Gouvernement-Ministre des Relations Extérieures et de la Communication et le Dr Seth Berkley, Directeur exécutif de Gavi, l'Alliance du Vaccin.

ANTANANARIVO, 23 November 2016 – At the Summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Government of Monaco signed a funding agreement for half a million euros over four years (2017-2020) to accelerate the vaccination of thousands of children in developing countries that are a priority for Monaco.

"We are pleased to conclude this partnership, which will help save between 6 and 7 million lives between now and 2020," stated Dr. Seth Berkley, Executive Director of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.  "By joining our Alliance, the Principality is participating in the ambitious aim of members of the Alliance to vaccinate an additional 300 million children to reduce infant mortality in the poorest countries."

This partnership, which is in line with the objectives of the development policy of the Prince's Government, will make it possible to improve maternal and infant health by increasing access to vaccination in several of the least advanced countries.

 "It is Monaco's responsibility to contribute to vaccination efforts, particularly in Madagascar, where vulnerable families do not have easy access," highlighted Mr. Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.  "Children's health is a moral imperative and a long-term investment.  Monaco is delighted to be cooperating with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a key player whose activities are crucial to improving infant health in Madagascar."

The agreement signed today should also make it possible to help strengthen health facilities and build staff capacity.  It demonstrates the wish of the Prince's Government to be associated with Gavi's strategic objectives for the 2016-2020 period.

About Monaco's Official Development Assistance

The Government of Monaco, through its Department of International Cooperation, has made combating poverty a priority, via three main areas of intervention:  health, education and socio-economic integration.  The funding allocated for public aid for development makes it possible to support more than 130 projects each year in 12 priority countries, mainly the Least Developed Countries (Madagascar, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, Senegal and Burundi), in agreement with the national policies of the countries concerned.

About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership whose mission is to save children's lives and protect the health of populations by increasing access to vaccination in developing countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together the governments of donor countries and developing countries, the World Health Organization , UNICEF , the World Bank , the pharmaceutical industry, technical institues, civil society organisations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners from the private sector.  Gavi has implemented a number of innovative mechanisms, including co-financing by beneficiary countries, to ensure sustainable funding and an adequate supply of high quality vaccines.  Since 2000, more than 580 million children have been vaccinated and more than 8 million premature deaths have been avoided, thanks to the programme funded by Gavi.  To find out more, visit the web site www.gavi.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Gavi is funded by governments (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America), the European Commission, the Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and private and institutional partners (Absolute Return for Kids, Anglo American Plc., the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Comic Relief, the ELMA Vaccines and Immunization Foundation, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW), the Gulf Youth Alliance, JP Morgan, "La Caixa Foundation," LDS Charities, the Lions Clubs International Foundation, Majid Al Futtaim, Phillips, UPS and Vodafone).

Contact

GAVI                                                                                  

Frédérique Tissandier

Tel. +41 22 909 2968

Mob. +41 79 300 8253

E-mail:  ftissandier@gavi.org