17 March 2023

L-R: Ken Lay, IFFIm Board Chair, Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao, Managing Director, Resource Mobilisation, Private Sector Partnerships and Innovative Finance, Gavi, and Joshua Tabah, Director General, Global Health and Nutrition, Global Affairs Canada.

• Canada expands its commitment to childhood immunisation as 11th donor to IFFIm

• C$ 125 million grant brings IFFIm’s donor support to nearly US$ 10 billion committed through 2037

• Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO: “Canada’s pledge will support Gavi’s work getting routine immunisation back on track in 2023 and renewing our conviction that no child is too hard to reach.”

London, 17 March 2023 – Canada has become the 11th sovereign donor to support the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) with a long-term pledge of C$ 125 million paid over eight years. The pledge is part of Canada’s commitment of C$ 600 million for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's 2021 to 2025 strategic period, and extends Canada's support for Gavi's mission, including reaching 14 million zero dose children who have never been vaccinated and strengthening the routine immunisation programmes that lagged in low-income countries during the pandemic. Canada joins current IFFIm donors Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Canada’s donor agreement, signed on 28 February 2023, will accelerate funding for immunisation programmes in Gavi-eligible countries. With the new C$ 125 million grant, IFFIm’s donor support has reached nearly US$ 10 billion committed over a 32-year period through 2037.

To date, IFFIm has leveraged long-term pledges to raise close to US$ 9 billion on capital markets. IFFIm funding supports Gavi’s immunisation, health system strengthening, and vaccine development programmes. These have contributed materially to the health of people in the world’s poorest countries, cutting childhood mortality in half.

“Canada is pleased to join IFFIm, especially at a critical moment for reclaiming gains in routine immunisation after years of pandemic-related disruption. Canada’s support will enable increased, immediate efforts by Gavi to strengthen immunisation systems and reach zero-dose children, while also reinforcing preparedness to respond to future challenges,” said the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

“We are very grateful for Canada’s longstanding partnership with Gavi and additional innovative grant funding through IFFIm,” said Gavi CEO Dr Seth Berkley. “Canada’s pledge will support Gavi’s work getting routine immunisation back on track in 2023 and renewing our conviction that no child is too hard to reach, including zero-dose children who have never received a single vaccine and women and girls in remote areas.”

“Canada’s commitment as IFFIm’s 11th sovereign donor is a milestone in our history,” said Ken Lay, Chair of the IFFIm Board of Directors. “IFFIm's strong donor base makes it possible to access capital markets cost-effectively and at scale to broaden coverage for both routine childhood vaccination and emergency response.”