20 September 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – Governments worldwide took a major step toward protecting populations from future pandemics by advancing negotiations for the first-ever global pandemic preparedness agreement during the latest round of talks at the World Health Organization (WHO).
The 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), composed of the 194 WHO member states, concluded today after 11 days of discussions, marking substantive progress on the draft agreement. Increased involvement from civil society and non-state actors and a shared commitment to maintaining the momentum were key outcomes of the meeting. Negotiators will reconvene for a 12th round of talks from 4 to 15 November.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of the agreement, citing the constant threat posed by viruses with pandemic potential. “The next pandemic will not wait for us, whether from a flu virus like H5N1, another coronavirus, or a virus we haven’t yet identified. But all the ingredients are in place for countries to negotiate a generational pandemic agreement. The world needs hope, and you can provide that hope,” Dr. Tedros said.
The pandemic agreement aims to create a global framework that will better prepare the world for future emergencies by ensuring collaboration between countries, civil society, and other key stakeholders. Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou, INB Bureau Co-chair from France, highlighted the visible commitment of governments to this goal and the critical role of civil society. “There was clear recognition from all countries that we must agree on a way forward to protect citizens from future pandemics,” she stated.
Amprou also praised the contributions from stakeholders, underscoring the importance of equity, innovation, and collaboration in the ongoing discussions. “We must sustain this progress in the coming months to realize our shared goal of a pandemic agreement that guides future global responses,” she added.
The INB has seen daily updates and active dialogues between negotiators and stakeholders over the past two weeks, with live broadcasts on key topics such as pandemic prevention, research and development, regulatory systems, and global supply chains. This transparency has fostered more inclusive discussions.
Representatives from civil society echoed the need for continued openness. Nina Jamal, Head of Pandemics at FOUR PAWS, expressed appreciation for the increased engagement, stating, “We thank the Bureau for transparency towards stakeholders and look forward to further progress on the substance of the pandemic agreement.” Similarly, Michelle Childs of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) called for even greater transparency, particularly in making stakeholder contributions publicly available.
Ms. Precious Matsoso, INB Co-chair from South Africa, highlighted advancements on key elements of the agreement, including research, pandemic prevention, technology sharing, and the One Health approach—a strategy that connects human, animal, and environmental health. She emphasized that collaboration between countries would ensure the world’s safety while respecting national sovereignty over health decision-making.
The push for a global pandemic agreement began in December 2021, when the World Health Assembly tasked the INB with drafting a convention under the WHO’s constitution to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Governments recommitted to finalizing the agreement by the end of 2024 during the June 2024 World Health Assembly.
The next round of discussions in November will focus on finalizing the critical elements of the draft agreement as countries aim to protect the world from future pandemics.
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