WHO and IFC have built a strong partnership focused on localization of manufacturing of medical countermeasures in developing countries.
The collaboration is rooted in a consistent and close dialogue between WHO and IFC – during a time in which the organizations have jointly convened manufactures and key stakeholders in the global health ecosystem to discuss opportunities and challenges around local manufacturing.
According to IFC’s Global Director for Health, Education and Services, Farid Fezoua, the collaboration has broken new ground to help advance the agenda on local manufacturing and preparedness for future pandemics:
At the heart of the collaboration are joint efforts to enhance the preparedness, predictability, and visibility of private sector solutions, which are key in facing future pandemics in low-income countries.
The collaboration between WHO and IFC builds on the individual strengths of the two institutions. IFC’s strength lies in convening the private sector and mobilizing private investments, while WHO contributes through its important global mandate on global health, strengthening ecosystems and building manufacturers’ capacity to meet regulatory standards.
Dr. Jicui Dong, WHO’s Head of the Local Production and Assistance Unit, emphasizes the synergy of the partnership:
The partnership makes the sum larger than its parts. With strengthened ecosystems, the foundation is laid for local production to achieve quality, be sustainable, bolster pandemic preparedness and swiftly respond to surge demand.
Background
Over the past six months, WHO and IFC have jointly hosted local manufactures and key actors in the global health ecosystem on three occasions:
- In the Hague, during the 2nd World Local Production Forum (November 2023)
- In Nairobi, during the Africa Vaccine Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum (February 2024), and
- At the World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington DC (April 16, 2024).
Read the Chairs Summary from the latest dialogue with manufactures and key stakeholders:Localization of manufacturing of health products in developing countries
Dr. Jicui Dong, WHO’s Head of the Local Production and Assistance Unit, emphasizing the synergy of the IFC and WHO partnership, enhances pandemic preparedness and enables rapid responses to surges in demand.
Mr Farid Fezoua, IFC’s Global Director for Health, Education and Services, emphasized that the collaboration between WHO and IFC represents a significant step forward in promoting local manufacturing and preparedness for future pandemics.
WHO and IFC partnership for local manufacturing of health products.