At the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), held in Yokohama from 20–22 August 2025, Japan reaffirmed its strong support for global health and Africa’s health equity agenda. Prime Minister H.E. Shigeru Ishiba announced that Japan will contribute up to US$ 550 million over the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as part of its next strategic period (2026–2030), known as Gavi 6.0. This pledge underscores Japan’s leadership in advancing vaccine delivery, strengthening universal health coverage, and highlighting the role of health in both national and global security. With 80% of Gavi’s investments directed to Africa, this contribution is expected to be pivotal in expanding vaccine access and protecting millions of children by 2030, the year Japan will also hold the G7 presidency.
During TICAD9, Gavi and the African Union Commission (AUC) also renewed their joint commitment to advance health equity and security in Africa. Together, they co-hosted an official thematic event focusing on immunisation, domestic health financing, and the development of sustainable vaccine manufacturing on the continent. Building on the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization, participants emphasized the importance of African leadership in health development, calling for stronger political and financial ownership from governments and greater support from international partners. Japan’s contribution of US$ 30 million to Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator further reinforced this commitment to regional vaccine production.
Leaders highlighted Africa’s progress in restoring immunisation coverage to pre-pandemic levels despite growing challenges, while stressing the urgent need to reach the 8.3 million “zero-dose” children who remain without any basic vaccines. Sustained investments in country-led health systems, alongside innovative financing mechanisms such as debt buy-downs, were identified as crucial to ensuring long-term progress. H.E. Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah of the AUC noted that Africa’s mission is to protect every child and secure the wellbeing of future generations, a goal achievable through strong partnerships with allies like Gavi and Japan.
Gavi’s CEO, Dr. Sania Nishtar, expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Japan for its renewed pledge, reaffirming that the Gavi Leap agenda places country ownership at the center of its strategy. Since 2000, Gavi’s collaboration with African governments has immunised more than 469 million children and averted over 12 million deaths, with countries themselves increasingly financing their own programmes through Gavi’s co-financing model. Looking ahead to 2026–2030, Gavi will further expand innovative partnerships, financing solutions, and technologies to improve last-mile delivery and empower countries to achieve self-sufficiency.
All stakeholders agreed that co-created solutions—whether financial, technological, or systemic—are key to strengthening health systems, leaving no one behind, and building resilience against infectious disease threats. Japan’s longstanding advocacy for universal health coverage and human security aligns closely with Africa’s health priorities, making it a crucial partner in driving Sustainable Development Goal 3. Japanese leaders reaffirmed their strong backing, with State Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Hisayuki Fujii noting that Japan’s support for Africa’s health sector not only improves lives but also drives societal change, further validating the country’s commitment to Gavi’s future success.
