The Pandemic Fund

Background

Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vietnam were awarded US$35.99 million from the Pandemic Fund to build smarter, faster pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) systems through the Data to Action project. The grant catalyzed an additional US$151.4 million in co-financing from multilateral organizations, private sector, philanthropic institutions, and other international partners. It also mobilized US$37.5 million in co-investment provided by the project’s twelve governments. The multi-country project convened a range of partners, from the Fondation Merieux to the Pacific Island Health Officers' Association, the Temasek Foundation, various universities, island councils, and many others. 

The project countries present a diverse range of contexts. In some, urbanization and intensive agriculture raise risks related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonotic disease. In others, high mobility presents a risk of imported infectious diseases. In still others, the public health landscape is complicated by limited health literacy or limited inter-island specimen transport. All countries face a core set of challenges, however, including fragmented surveillance efforts, the short reach of their laboratories, underdeveloped emergency response capabilities, and gaps in community engagement. 

In order to mount an effective response to these challenges, the Data to Action project emphasizes cross-border and cross-sectoral cooperation. It is led by the countries’ national health institutions with the support from three implementing entities: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).  
 

Project objectives

With the support of the Pandemic Fund and their project partners, the twelve Data to Action countries aim to bolster PPR capacity and sustainability across the Western Pacific. 
 

Implementation arrangements and key components

Data to Action aligns precisely with the Pandemic Fund’s three priorities: surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. Detail on all project components follows.   

1. Strengthening multi-source surveillance. Activities in this area aim to connect the dots among data coming from the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, as well as national points of entry. Project countries plan to strengthen their National Public Health Institutes (or equivalent entities) and expand event- and community-based surveillance. One Health coordination platforms are designed to facilitate greater digitalization, data interoperability, and information-sharing, and new communities of practice are intended to help countries adapt proven surveillance models to their unique contexts.  

2. Boosting laboratory capacity and coordination. This portion of the project focuses on expanding laboratory capacity at subnational levels, embedding One Health principles into laboratory systems, and linking domestic laboratories through regional networks. Activities include upgrading infrastructure and policies, enhancing diagnostics, strengthening biosafety and biosecurity, and training laboratory staff. Countries will share lessons learned and contribute to national and regional laboratory networks and specimen referral systems.