We must remember that global threats like COVID-19 demand a coordinated multilateral response. Image by Elf-Moondance from Pixabay.
COVID-19 is an enemy that knows no borders. There will be no final victory until every person in every
country is protected. With a population of over 1.3 billion, Africa is one of the most unprotected and
vulnerable regions. It would be a fatal mistake to consider that the pandemic there is less severe, and thus
âAfrica can waitâ. The latest data indicates that 4.28 million cases have been recorded on the continent,
representing a 9% rise in just one month, though even this could be a significant underestimate of the true
number. At 2.7%, the case fatality rate in Africa is now higher than the global rate of 2.2%.
At a global level, huge advances in the battle against COVID-19 have been made. Producing highly
effective vaccines in less than a year and setting up collective distribution systems, such as COVAX, are
heroic achievements that must be saluted. But we are still running far behind what is needed to ensure
safety in Africa. Across the continent, vaccine accessibility is not only far below the efficacy threshold of
60% of the population but significantly lower than the 20% promised by COVAX.
As of 15 March, only 23.6 million vaccine doses had been distributed in Africa, sufficient for around
1.7% of the continentâs population. This is barely 0.5% of current global vaccine distribution, while the
continent represents more than 17% of the global population. COVAX itself has provided 16 million doses to 28 African countries, leaving 16 countries to resort to donations and bilateral agreements. 10 countries remain totally outside any supply system.
Global Pandemic. Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay.
If vaccine supply to Africa is not immediately upscaled, the continentâs frontline health workers are
likely to be overwhelmed. Currently, they are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, accounting for 3.5%
of COVID-19 cases in Africa. In this unfolding scenario, alongside the human tragedy, Africa might well
become a perfect incubator for variants.
We know that if the virus is not efficiently defeated everywhere, it will continue to spread and mutate. Ensuring equitable and balanced access to vaccines is not just a matter of justice, even less of charity. It is a matter of global security and thus of shared interest. Immediate and united efforts are needed to address this challenge. We must get vaccines to Africa faster, unlock additional financial resources for the countries that need then most, and build public health and vaccine manufacturing capacity in the longer-term.
A clear and secure country-by-country COVAX delivery schedule in Africa for the second quarter of the
year is vital. We need to know in advance where there are gaps, so that they can be addressed as swiftly
as possible. An immediate solution to the current vaccine gap would be for wealthier countries to share a part of
their vaccine supplies with less advanced countries. Simply giving away surpluses is far from enough. We
welcome President Macronâs call for Europe and the US to urgently send 5% of their vaccine supplies
to developing nations. To date, generous commitments, even regarding potentially wasted surpluses,
remain to be implemented.
We are all connected. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.
Specific additional financial resources must be secured to allow African governments to fill the vaccine
gap through non-COVAX channelled resources and to strengthen their capacities in storage, transport,
distribution and administration. Shortfalls in these areas limit access to the COVAX facility and will
undermine the success of the vaccination drive.
The International Monetary Fundâs plan to issue $650 billion of additional Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) is key and we salute Kristalina Georgievaâs personal commitment to making this happen. We must now ensure that these additional resources benefit the countries and sectors that need them most critically. Financial support could also come through additional allocations of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from bilateral donors or from the World Bank via an anticipated International Development Association (IDA) replenishment.
African governments themselves must commit to specific efforts to mobilise their own resources, despite these being under increasing strain due to the crisis. For any government, ensuring the health of their own population is crucial. All citizens expect health as a public good to be delivered by their government. Finally, transparency and strong accountability mechanisms must accompany any additional financial resources.
Clearly, the main bottleneck in tackling COVID-19 today is vaccine manufacturing capacity. While up to
14 billion COVID-19 vaccines might be needed globally, the current global manufacturing capacity is
only 3 to 5 billion. In response to the current crisis and looking ahead to future pandemics, Africa must
strengthen and upscale its own vaccine manufacturing capacities, with support from its partners. Much
can be done here, ranging from immediately linking global manufacturers with local companies who
have fill-and-finish capacities, to boosting investments, reducing intellectual property barriers, promoting
technology transfers, and sharing data and expertise.
We commend Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealaâs leadership in convening WTO member countries and vaccine manufacturers to negotiate fairer manufacturing and distribution terms for developing countries. In all of this, a strong partnership with the African private sector, which has already demonstrated its resourcefulness and efficiency in producing tests and PPEs, will be paramount.
Tackling COVID-19 is not a one-shot, emergency issue. Evolving variations of COVID-19 and the
emergence of Disease-X are bound to happen. We are all witness to how the current virus has shifted
or even destroyed social and economic balances right around the world. Making sure Africa is able to
manage the current crisis while also preparing for the future is an urgent matter of global security.
These priority areas, as well new research from the Foundation on âAfrica and COVID-19: one year onâ,
will be at the centre of discussions at the Ibrahim Forum during the upcoming Ibrahim Governance
Weekend, taking place for the first time in a virtual format on 3-5 June 2021.
Co-signed by the Board Members, Ibrahim Prize Committee and Prize Laureates of the Mo Ibrahim
Foundation:
Valerie Amos | Zeinab Badawi | Jin-Yong Cai | H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano | Nathalie Delapalme |
AĂŻcha Bah Diallo | Mohamed ElBaradei | Jendayi Frazer | Hadeel Ibrahim | Hosh Ibrahim | Mo Ibrahim |
H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou | Abdoulie Janneh | Donald Kaberuka | H.E. Horst KĂśhler | Pascal Lamy |
Graça Machel | H.E. Festus Gontebanye Mogae | Jay Naidoo | H.E. Pedro De Verona Rodrigues Pires |
H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba | H.E. Mary Robinson | H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | Ngaire Woods
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting childrenâs rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Childrenâs Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescentsâ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trustâs goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a motherâs health and social economic conditions, the early years of a childâs life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.