Presenter: Chloe Cooney, Director, U.S. Strategy, Gavi 

Chloe provided a comprehensive overview of Gavi 6.0, the next phase of Gavi’s strategic plan. Gavi 6.0’s core aim is to vaccinate 500 million additional children. Chloe emphasized the ambition behind this target, noting that Gavi plans to reach the next 500 million children in half the time it took to vaccinate the first billion, reflecting Gavi’s increasing efficiency. 

Key Points from Chloe’s Presentation 

• Reaching 500 million Additional Children: 
  Gavi’s primary goal in Gavi 6.0 is to vaccinate 500 million more children. Chloe emphasized that the organization’s ability to reach this milestone more quickly reflects an increased pace and efficiency in vaccine delivery, building on previous achievements. 

• Innovative Vaccines: 
  A key feature of Gavi 6.0 is the introduction of new vaccines. These include vaccines for malaria and dengue, as well as tools to fight MPox. Chloe highlighted these innovations as critical in addressing emerging global health threats. “We’re not just looking at existing diseases; we are preparing for new ones,” she stated, stressing the importance of proactive vaccine development. 

• Building Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity: 
  Chloe pointed to the AVMA (African Vaccine Manufacturing Alliance), a new initiative focused on building vaccine manufacturing capacity within Africa. This is crucial to ensure that countries are less reliant on external vaccine supplies and more self-sufficient in addressing their immunization needs. “Regional manufacturing increases resilience and ensures that vaccines are produced closer to where they are needed,” Chloe explained. 

• Strategic Challenges: 
  Chloe discussed the challenges Gavi faces, particularly rising vaccine costs and political instability in donor countries, which are affecting funding levels. “These challenges highlight the need for targeted and tailored advocacy, especially as we continue to secure funding in a volatile global environment,” she said. 

The Role of Civil Society in Gavi 6.0 

Chloe emphasized that CSOs will play a vital role in ensuring Gavi’s success. She urged civil society groups to: 

1. Demonstrate Gavi’s impact: CSOs should continue showcasing Gavi’s cost-effectiveness and return on investment (ROI) in saving lives, particularly through Gavi’s co-financing model.
2. Advocate for continued investment: Gavi needs sustained funding, particularly for regional initiatives like AVMA, which will help build long-term vaccine manufacturing capacity in Africa.
3. Mobilize at all levels: Chloe stressed that CSOs must work at local, national, and regional levels to ensure governments continue prioritizing immunization and remain committed to funding Gavi. 

Presenter: Dr. Tessa Oraro Lawrence, VillageReach. 

Tessa introduced the Gavi Donor Accountability Tracker, a tool designed to track progress toward Gavi’s $9 billion replenishment target. The tracker provides a real-time view of donor commitments, helping CSOs monitor progress and target their advocacy efforts more effectively. 

“This tool allows us to track donor commitments and ensures we stay on course toward our replenishment target,” Tessa explained. She acknowledged that while the tracker will evolve based on donor negotiations, it will remain a key tool in supporting civil society advocacy efforts. 

Presenter: Mutana Wanjira, Communications and Advocacy Lead, Gavi CSO Constituency 

Mutana outlined the agenda for the Gavi Board meeting (December 4–5, 2024, in Bali), focusing on its strategic significance. The meeting is set to discuss key decisions that will shape the direction of Gavi’s funding and programs, including: 

• Health System Strategy: Focusing on program sustainability and investment priorities. 

• Funding Policy Review: Examining updated allocation formulas and ensuring equity in funding distribution. 

• Measurement Framework: Shaping the evaluation criteria for Gavi 6.0. 

• Replenishment Roadmap: Finalizing strategies for engaging donors and ensuring Gavi meets its financial targets. 

Mutana highlighted past successes, such as securing 10% ring-fenced funding for CSOs in Gavi programs, and stressed the importance of continued CSO involvement in the process. 

The Q&A session featured contributions from participants, addressing both strategic and practical issues: 

Peter Owiti (Gavi CSO Constituency Steering Committee Member, Kenya) raised concerns about how the G7’s leadership transition might affect Gavi’s visibility in international discussions. He noted that recent G7 communiques had not prioritized vaccines. 

• Question: “How do we ensure vaccines remain a priority during Canada’s G7 leadership?” 

• Response from Chloe Cooney: “Political transitions like these create both opportunities and challenges. We are actively engaging with G7 members to ensure immunization remains a priority. We also encourage CSOs to advocate for vaccine equity in their respective countries.” 

Lucille (Global Health Advocates, France) asked about the most effective advocacy messages for engaging donors, especially in countries like France, where legacy arguments may not hold as much weight. 

• Question: “What arguments are most effective in securing donor support, especially in France?” 

• Response from Chloe Cooney: “Cost-effectiveness, co-financing, and global health security are core messages. However, these must be tailored to each donor’s political and economic context. In France, leveraging the country’s leadership role in global health may still resonate.” 

Dominique (Results Canada) inquired about the potential of Davos as a platform for securing early pledges from donors, given Canada’s role in the G7. 

• Question: “Could Davos serve as a platform for early pledges, especially with Canada’s political context?” 

• Response from Chloe Cooney: “Davos is a significant milestone, especially as we celebrate Gavi’s 25th anniversary. We will support Canada’s strategy if Davos is seen as a platform for pledges.” 

Sabina asked about upcoming AVMA events and their potential to serve as advocacy platforms before the replenishment conference. 

• Question: “Could the AVMA continental event in Q1 2025 be a critical moment for advocacy?” 

• Response from Mutana Wanjira: “Yes, the AVMA continental event is scheduled for Q1 2025, and we will provide more details soon. It represents a key opportunity for advocacy.” 

Vandana Shah (Global Health Advocacy Incubator, USA) raised concerns about potential shifts in U.S. global health priorities and their impact on Gavi’s funding. 

• Question: “How can we effectively engage with U.S. policymakers to ensure Gavi remains a priority?” 

• Response from Chloe Cooney: “Congressional support for Gavi remains strong across both parties, and we are confident in this foundation. However, consistent advocacy is key to ensuring that Gavi continues to be prioritized.” 

The meeting concluded with clear actions assigned to specific individuals and teams: 

1. Advocacy Tools Distribution: 

Wambui and Chloe will share the “Mother of All Spreadsheets” to all participants. This comprehensive document tracks key milestones, donor commitments, important dates, and upcoming events related to Gavi’s replenishment efforts. It serves as a central reference tool to align CSO activities and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding advocacy priorities and timelines. Alongside this, the updated communications toolkit will be shared to support consistent messaging and to ensure CSOs have aligned messaging and a clear understanding of advocacy milestones. 

1. Connecting with National Focal Points: 
   Mutana and Liza will facilitate connections between CSOs and Gavi’s national focal points to support tailored advocacy efforts in specific countries. 

1. Post-Board Meeting Call: 
   Liza will organize a follow-up community call to discuss the Bali Board meeting outcomes and recalibrate advocacy strategies based on new developments. 

1. Refining the Accountability Tracker: 
   Tessa will update the tracker to reflect feedback, ensuring it aligns with ongoing donor discussions while remaining an effective advocacy tool. 

1. Monitoring Advocacy Opportunities: 
   CSOs will identify upcoming events and diplomatic engagements that could provide advocacy opportunities. Wambui will coordinate these efforts, leveraging input from participants.