Negotiations on the world’s first agreement to safeguard people from future pandemics, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), made significant strides during the latest round of discussions, which concluded today.
Key achievements of the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which includes representatives from WHO’s 194 member states, were substantive progress on the draft pandemic agreement, greater involvement from civil society and non-state actors, and a collective commitment to sustain momentum. The talks, held in Geneva from September 9-20, will continue in a 12th round from November 4-15.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, commended the dedication shown by governments and stakeholders toward finalizing the agreement. He emphasized the urgency of this work, given the ongoing threat posed by viruses with pandemic potential.
“The next pandemic won’t wait for us, whether it’s caused by a flu virus like H5N1, another coronavirus, or an unknown virus,” Dr. Tedros remarked. “But we have the necessary ingredients to achieve a generational pandemic agreement. The world needs hope that countries can still find common solutions to shared problems. You can provide that hope.”
Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou, Co-chair of the INB Bureau from France, highlighted the commitment of governments to crafting an agreement that would make the world safer. She also recognized the importance of contributions from civil society and non-governmental stakeholders, ensuring that the agreement centers on equity, innovation, and collaboration.
“Member States of WHO displayed a strong commitment to a pandemic agreement during extensive discussions,” Ambassador Amprou said. “It’s clear that we must agree on a way forward to work together to protect citizens from future pandemics.”
She further emphasized the value of input from INB stakeholders and stressed the need to maintain progress in the coming months to finalize the agreement.
Throughout the two-week session, stakeholders joined negotiators daily for updates, review of the latest draft agreement, and discussions on critical topics. Publicly broadcast interactive dialogues focused on key subjects, reflecting the latest government proposals and offering room for suggestions.
“There is growing urgency for an effective pandemic agreement that not only prepares us for future pandemics but also helps prevent them, particularly through a One Health approach,” said Nina Jamal, Head of Pandemics at FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare organization. She praised the transparency of the discussions and expressed hope for further progress on the agreement.
Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), appreciated the sharing of draft texts and briefings, which enhanced the ability of stakeholders to participate and dispelled misinformation. She urged further efforts to boost transparency by making stakeholder contributions publicly available.
Ms. Precious Matsoso, INB Co-chair from South Africa, noted advancements in key areas such as research and development, regulatory systems, pandemic prevention, technology, and the sharing of pandemic-related resources like vaccines and treatments.
“After nearly three years of negotiations, countries are now focused on resolving the remaining critical elements of the draft agreement,” said Ms. Matsoso. “The heart of these talks is the recognition that global collaboration will protect us from future pandemics, while ensuring each country retains sovereignty over its national health decisions.
