The Facilitation Council provides high-level advice, guidance and leadership to facilitate the work of the COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), its global collaborative framework, and its partnerships to ensure the realization of the ACT-A vision: the rapid development, scale-up and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, underpinned by the strengthening of health systems.
Advice and guidance includes: reviewing investments; assisting ACT-A in addressing strategic, policy and financial challenges and enhancing cross-partnership coherence, transparency and accountability.
Global leadership includes: deepening understanding of the ACT-A imperative and economic case for investment, amplifying ACT-A successes to garner political backing and financing; championing the mobilization of resources and sharing insights on opportunities, risks and environmental shifts and mobilizing the global community.
Formally launched on 10 September 2020, the Council is currently co-chaired by Norway and South Africa.
The Council has been carefully composed to ensure appropriate and diverse representation of global leaders and partners. It includes countries that collectively represent key founding ACT-A members and donors, market shapers and regional cooperation groups. It also includes two co-hosts (WHO and the European Commission), two WHO Special Envoys for ACT-A and three non-government partners. Industry representatives and civil society representatives are invited to meetings.
