NTI Statement in Support of WHO Pandemic Accord

NTI applauds today’s announcement that the International Negotiating Body of the World Health Organization (WHO) has reached a deal on the language of the Pandemic Accord. Pandemics continue to pose a global threat, and this proposed agreement is proof that the world can unify to reduce the most catastrophic risks. While this is a win for cooperative approaches to address global challenges, the active retreat by the United States from its leadership position by withdrawing from both the Pandemic Accord negotiations and the WHO, is disappointing.

As the world awaits the Pandemic Accord’s adoption by the World Health Assembly in May and ratification by members, the key to its success will be in its implementation.

“The devastating impacts of COVID-19 laid bare the frightening reality that all countries remain dangerously unprepared for future threats—including those that could be more damaging than the pandemic we just experienced,” said Jaime Yassif, Ph.D., vice president for Global Biological Policy and Programs at NTI. “The Global Health Security Index has documented this weakness. National governments should build on the positive momentum from this agreement and secure the investments that will be essential to protect vulnerable populations around the world from the next pandemic threat—regardless of its source. The Index can be a valuable guide.”

In addition to highlighting significant gaps in international capacity to prevent and respond to pandemic threats, COVID-19 revealed disturbing inequities that leave populations in lower- and middle-income countries especially vulnerable. National governments and other key funders must focus on building capacity to guard against future pandemic threats and build systems that create more equitable access to critical life-saving resources.

NTI looks forward to supporting the Pandemic Accord by working with international partners to further build pandemic preparedness capacity by:

• Creating political accountability to incentivize governments to invest in pandemic preparedness capacity within their borders
• Providing data for international development banks, philanthropic organizations, and national governments to make evidence-based decisions to prioritize resource allocation more effectively, maximizing the impact of investments
• Setting a global standard for biosecurity and pandemic preparedness