The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, concluded its final meeting before the start of its next strategic period (2026–2030, Gavi 6.0) with a series of landmark decisions placing country ownership at the core of its operating model. Nearly 90% of the budget for vaccine procurement will be allocated directly to countries through “country vaccine budgets,” allowing nations to optimise immunisation programmes based on their own strategies and contexts. This approach ensures equitable access by removing advantages for countries that apply more quickly and gives governments a clear five-year view of available resources, enabling better planning and domestic financing. The reforms are part of the Gavi Leap transformation agenda, which also includes grant management reform and a reduction of Secretariat headcount by 33% to enhance efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
Despite financial constraints, Gavi will increase its investment in fragile and conflict-affected settings by 15%, focusing over a third of its funding on the 25% most vulnerable children. Allocations will prioritise the lowest-income countries with the highest under-five mortality rates, and a new Gavi Resilience Mechanism will provide flexible support for countries and partners operating in humanitarian contexts. The Board also provisionally approved the inclusion of nine-valent HPV vaccines to fight cervical cancer and agreed to expand support for vaccines against tuberculosis, mpox, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) under the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), strengthening regional manufacturing capacity.
The Board recalibrated Gavi’s strategy to align with available resources, estimated at US$10 billion over five years. Funding for global stockpiles was reduced by US$200 million, the contingency budget halved, and US$100 million in co-financing waivers for fragile countries set aside separately. Savings will also be achieved through better-targeted vaccine introductions and campaigns, while preventive campaign co-financing requirements will be waived for the lowest-income countries in 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.
The meeting also marked the final Board session presided over by Chair José Manuel Barroso, who led Gavi from 2021 and oversaw its fifth strategic period. Under his leadership, Gavi exceeded its target of a 10% reduction in under-five mortality, immunised over 300 million children, averted an estimated 7–8 million deaths, and generated US$80 billion in economic savings. Gavi also played a pivotal role in responding to global emergencies, delivering two billion COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX, restoring routine immunisation coverage, and introducing malaria and HPV vaccination programmes. Barroso reflected on Gavi’s achievements and expressed confidence in the Alliance’s next phase, emphasizing the importance of country-driven vaccination agendas and strengthened self-reliance.
