GAVI Matching Fund partners are having a significant impact
the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged £ 50 million and US$ 50 million, respectively, to match contributions from the private sector. As a result, several companies are making a significant impact as partners in the GAVI Matching Fund:
ARK: Catalyzing health outcomes for children
I am delighted that ARK has become the first organization to sign up to the GAVI Matching Fund to help immunise tens of thousands of children in developing countries Andrew Mitchell, UK Secretary of State for International Affairs |
Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) is an international charity whose purpose is to transform children’s lives. In June 2011, ARK pledged US$ 3.2 million to GAVI, becoming the first organization to accept DFID’s offer to match private donations.
"ARK has always believed that the private sector can and must do more,” ARK Chairman Ian Wace said at GAVI’s Pledging Conference in London. “Our pledge was intended as a call to action for that sector to rise to the challenge of partnership to save children's lives.”
ARK’s contribution to GAVI will support the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in Zambia, where diarrhoea is the second largest killer of children under age five. To complement the vaccine introduction, ARK is working with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) on a diarrhoea prevention and control program. The program aims to vaccinate 750,000 children against rotavirus and train 560 healthcare workers by 2015.
Anglo American: Working in partnership to address the burden of disease
A coordinated response between governments, the private sector and civil society is required, and to this end we support innovative health financing partnerships like GAVI Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American |
Anglo American plc is one of the world’s largest mining companies, operating in Africa, Europe, South and North America, Australia and Asia. With more than 95% of its workforce in developing countries, Anglo American appreciates the importance of strong health systems and is committed to improving the quality of primary health care in its host communities and countries.
In 2002, Anglo American became the first major employer to offer free antiretroviral treatment to its HIV positive employees, and in 2008 Anglo American extended the benefit to employees’ families and dependents. In 2010, it challenged 112 global businesses associated with the G20 to follow its lead in funding global health programs, pledging US$ 3 million over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
In June 2011 Anglo American became the first UK plc to participate in the GAVI Matching Fund, pledging US $3 million over three years, which is being matched by DFID. Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, commented at the time that, “We hope that our action will encourage a similar level of support for GAVI from other large companies in the UK and around the world. In November 2011, Anglo American presented the first of three US$ 1 million cheques for immunisation programmes under the GAVI Matching Fund.
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK): 10 years transforming children’s lives
Our hope is that CIFF’s journey will be useful for all who aim to make development more impactful Jamie Cooper-Hohn, President & CEO of CIFF |
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK) is a UK-based foundation which aims to demonstrably improve the lives of children living in poverty in developing countries by achieving large-scale sustainable impact. CIFF believes that every child deserves to survive, thrive and mature into adulthood in a supportive and safe environment.
“Pneumococcal disease is the most prevalent cause of pneumonia and the leading vaccine-preventable killer of children younger than five,” says CIFF President & CEO Jamie Cooper-Hohn. “The GAVI Matching Fund challenge put forward by DFID and the Gates Foundation makes this an especially compelling investment for CIFF, and we’re excited to participate.”
Comic Relief: A just world free from poverty
We’re delighted to be partnering with GAVI and, thanks to the generosity of the British public, hope to raise at least £2 million as well as significant awareness of this important issue Comic Relief, CEO Kevin Cahill |
Comic Relief is UK-based charity that strives to create a just world free from poverty. Its mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. Since being launched on Christmas Day in 1985, live on BBC television, Comic Relief has raised millions of pounds through two big fundraising campaigns: Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. That money is used to tackle the root causes of poverty and social injustice. The idea is simple: Comic Relief makes the public laugh as a way to raise money to help people in desperate need.
Comic Relief aims to raise at least £2 million (about US$ 3 million) toward children’s immunisation from this year’s Sport Relief campaign and award a grant to the GAVI Matching Fund, to be matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Sport Relief is one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events – with planned activities in the UK on 23-25 March – attracting major stars to call attention to critical needs, such as immunisation.
J.P. Morgan
J.P. Morgan is a leading global investment bank, serving nearly 20,000 clients, including corporations, governments, states, municipalities, health care organizations, education institutions, banks and investors. J.P. Morgan’s clients operate in more than 100 countries.
We are pleased to play our part in funding this global initiative, which is vital to the health of millions of children around the world Daniel Pinto, CEO of J.P. Morgan-Europe, the Middle East and Africa |
J.P. Morgan remains committed to social entrepreneurs and underserved communities across the globe, even in the most challenging times. In the past year, it has pledges more than $150 million through grants and sponsorships to thousands of not-for-profit organisations in more than 25 countries.
As part of this effort, J.P. Morgan has contributed £1.5 million ($2 million) to purchase vaccines in GAVI-supported countries, which is being matched by DFID.
“la Caixa” Foundation: Visionary corporate partner
"la Caixa" is the leading savings bank in Spain and the third largest financial entity in the country. Its foundation is among the largest and most important in the world, contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty in the most disadvantaged countries, including a focus on child vaccination and global health.
When we learned about GAVI’s work and its extraordinary achievements, we had no doubt about becoming the first private European foundation to join the Matching Fund Her Royal Highness The Infanta Cristina of Spain, Director of International Programmes for the “la Caixa” Foundation |
To that end, the “la Caixa” Foundation has worked closely with GAVI since 2008, contributing US$ 22 million (equivalent) from all “la Caixa” sources. This total includes € 98,500 (US$ 133,000) in employee donations, as well as € 633,988 (US$ 855,000) from its partners in the Business Alliance for Child Vaccination, a group of Spanish businesses that have raised funds for GAVI programmes. In 2008, “la Caixa” created the Business Alliance as a way to give Spanish companies the opportunity to collaborate with the GAVI Alliance in the fight against child mortality. More than 140 companies now have done so.
Most recently, “la Caixa” has pledged €4 million for 2011-2012 through the GAVI Matching Fund to purchase pneumococcal vaccine for GAVI-supported countries in Latin America. This has been matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The “la Caixa” Foundation will continue to perform its strong advocacy work for GAVI throughout Spain.
