- The fund raised more than $ 242 million from more than 661,000 individuals, companies and other organizations to support the global response COVID-19 from WHO and its partners.
- The fund helps WHO distribute life-saving supplies, information and research in countries around the world.
- An additional $ 1.96 billion is needed for WHO in 2021 to continue coordinating the response to the global pandemic, more than 60% will go to the Access requirements for COVID-19 tools, including diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
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A year ago, WHO created the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to respond to the unprecedented demonstration of support from individuals and businesses to help WHO in the fight against COVID-19. Developed by the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropic Foundation, it was developed as an innovative platform to enable private companies, individuals and other organizations to directly contribute to WHO’s efforts to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 worldwide.
The fund’s first year saw unprecedented solidarity: to date, more than 661,000 donors have contributed nearly $ 250 million. The funds were used to provide millions of frontline workers with essential personal protective equipment, medical supplies and test kits; manage disinformation and the infodemic; support vulnerable populations such as refugees and displaced persons; and helped to accelerate research on vaccines, tests and treatments.
“I sincerely thank all individuals, companies and other organizations for their donations to the Solidarity Response Fund,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Your generosity made the difference. On the fund’s one-year anniversary, we saw what we can accomplish together in times of need. ”
The Solidarity Response Fund has been a critical source of funding for WHO’s overall response. Since the start of the pandemic, WHO has shipped nearly 250 million items of personal protective equipment and vital medical supplies, including oxygen, to more than 150 countries, has strengthened hundreds of national and sub-national laboratories with technical support, has provided more than 250 million items. COVID-19 tests; coordinated the deployment of more than 180 teams worldwide; and supported more than 12,000 intensive care beds in health systems that would otherwise be overburdened.
Despite the advances, current trends show that the fight is far from over. That is why today the fund launches a new call for fund actions to contribute to the estimated $ 1.96 billion demanded by WHO in 2021 to respond to the remaining and new challenges in the fight against COVID-19.
Contributions to the next phase of the fund will support efforts by WHO and its partners to continue to suppress transmission, reduce exposure, combat disinformation, protect the vulnerable, reduce mortality and morbidity and accelerate equitable access to new COVID- tools. 19 – including through WHO’s work with the ACT-Accelerator, to increase vaccination globally, especially for the most vulnerable countries, and to ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies.
The newly launched WHO Foundation will lead the next phase of the Solidarity Response Fund to support the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, working in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation and a global network of fiduciary partners.
“The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has galvanized a surprising display of global generosity beyond anything we’ve seen before. We put all the resources of the United Nations Foundation into this task and were impressed with the global response that enabled us to obtain essential funds for the most urgent needs in the devastating first year of the pandemic. The Solidarity Response Fund is a true testament to the power of collective action and what can be achieved when people from all sectors and all over the world act together to respond to overcome a collective threat, ”said Elizabeth Cousens, president and CEO of the United Nations Foundation.
Launched in May 2020, the WHO Foundation is an independent organization that provides grants
“COVID-19 affected us all. Every country. Each company. Each community. It was inspiring to see the world supporting WHO last year in the form of hundreds of thousands of contributions to its Solidarity Response Fund. This money was well used and saved countless lives, “said Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation.” I am committed to maintaining the Fund’s success as a vehicle for individuals and businesses to drive the global fight against COVID-19. This pandemic will not end anywhere until it ends everywhere, and donations to the Solidarity Response Fund help move the world towards that goal.
The COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) and the accompanying guidelines, issued in February 2021, fully articulate the basis for WHO’s appeal. The document guides the coordinated action that WHO must take at the national, regional and global levels to overcome the continuing challenges in responding to COVID-19, address inequalities and set a course beyond the pandemic.
“We achieved a lot in the past year. Unfortunately, the pandemic is far from over and we cannot give up the fight yet. We thank you for your contributions and look for your continued support to win COVID-19. ”Added Dr. Tedros.
Notes for editors
Report of the WHO response in 2020 to COVID-19.
Read more about WHO’s response to COVID-19
About the Solidarity Response Fund
The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, developed by the WHO Foundation in collaboration with UNF and a global network of partners, is the primary way for individuals, companies, foundations and other organizations around the world to directly support the work of WHO and its partners to help countries prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially where the needs are greatest.
About the WHO Foundation
The WHO Foundation is an independent donation foundation based in Geneva that aims to protect the health and well-being of all people in all parts of the world, working alongside the World Health Organization and the global health community . Its goal is to support donors, scientists, experts, implementation partners and advocates around the world in the rapid search for new and better solutions to the most pressing global health challenges of today and tomorrow. The Foundation will target evidence-based initiatives that support WHO in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all). It focuses on reducing health risks, preventing pandemics, better disease management and building stronger health systems. It addresses these areas, raising awareness and supporting its partners, including WHO, so that every life is invested and the world is ready for any health emergencies that may arise.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation is an independent charitable organization created to be a strategic partner of the United Nations to address humanity’s greatest challenges, build initiatives in all sectors to solve problems at scale and drive global progress.