In an effort to fortify Latin America and the Caribbean's defenses against future pandemics, the Pandemic Fund (PF) has approved five new projects worth $84.1 million across ten countries. This initiative, announced during the Fund’s second round of funding, will support the development of essential health infrastructure, including enhanced disease surveillance, upgraded laboratory facilities, and expanded health workforce capacities.

The projects will benefit Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, and six Eastern Caribbean countries—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. These projects, led primarily by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with government agencies and stakeholders, seek to strengthen the region’s pandemic response and prevention frameworks.

Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, emphasized the significance of this funding for the region. “This financing represents a critical investment in enhancing pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he stated. “Our region was the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 mpox outbreak, and continues to face substantial risks from emerging pathogens, as illustrated by the current Oropouche virus outbreak.”

The high demand for pandemic preparedness funding became apparent during the Pandemic Fund’s second call for proposals, which attracted 146 submissions requesting a total of $4.6 billion. However, only $418 million was available, resulting in the selection of 23 global projects. Notably, an additional $128.89 million was allocated by the Fund in September to tackle the mpox outbreak in Africa.

“Although the funds allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean are critical, they represent just 20% of the total amount requested,” Dr. Barbosa pointed out, underscoring the pressing need for sustainable, long-term financing to support pandemic preparedness efforts.

The Pandemic Fund, hosted by the World Bank, plays a pivotal role in advancing pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) strategies globally. Since its inception, it has contributed $45 million to pandemic readiness efforts in the Americas, and a third call for proposals is anticipated in early 2025, further advancing global health security initiatives.