Pandemic preparedness and global health security
Pandemics and major outbreaks of infectious diseases have the potential to affect a significant proportion of the global population and often result in high death tolls, major economic strain and increased inequality. Norway is therefore working to strengthen pandemic preparedness worldwide through global partnerships and investments in preventive measures.
What
The COVID-19 pandemic showed the extent to which outbreaks of infectious diseases can affect the world. Following decades of poverty reduction, the number of people living in extreme poverty increased significantly as a result of the pandemic.
Outbreaks of disease that affect high numbers of people can be associated with varying degrees of severity, from milder outbreaks of seasonal flu to outbreaks of Ebola or global pandemics such as COVID-19. People in poor countries and countries experiencing war and long-term conflict are often particularly vulnerable due to weak health systems. Strengthening national health systems and international partnerships is important for detecting outbreaks of infectious disease, early notification and effective management of outbreaks.
How
Norway recognises that national health systems constitute the backbone for effective prevention of and response to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Norway therefore supports strengthening national health systems, something that entails developing national monitoring systems, increased diagnostic capacity for new pathogenic outbreaks and the ability to effectively respond to outbreaks.
Vaccines constitute one of the most cost-effective ways of preventing serious infectious diseases and you can read more about Norway’s efforts in this area here (link).
Cooperation at regional and international level also plays a central role in identifying outbreaks and working together to manage such outbreaks. Norway therefore supports international partnerships that increase global capacity for preventing, detecting and managing outbreaks and supports multilateral stakeholders that provide funding for capacity-building in poor countries. Better coordination between countries and international stakeholders can also help strengthen the efforts to develop, produce and distribute medical countermeasures.
In 2024, the members of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted an update to the International Health Regulations (IHR) to strengthen cooperation and preparedness against infectious diseases that could cross borders and become regional or global outbreaks.
Norway has, among other things, been an active participant in the establishment and design of a new pandemic fund at the World Bank (launched in 2022). Norway has also led The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator (who.int) in partnership with South Africa, funding “Building Stronger Public Health Institutions and Systems” and the “Global Health Preparedness Program”.
Who/Where
Norway mainly finances efforts through multilateral institutions and global funds and financing is primarily aimed at low and lower middle-income countries. Norwegian diplomatic efforts also cover activities at global, regional and national level, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa.
Key partners for Norway in this area include:
- World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Organization (WHO)
- The Pandemic Fund | The Pandemic Fund
- World Bank https://www.worldbank.org/en/home
- Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Home page | CEPI
- The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) The World Is Still Failing at Pandemic Preparedness and Response (gavi.org)
- The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria https://www.theglobalfund.org
- Unitaid - Home - Unitaid
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Home – Africa CDC
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health - NIPH
- The University of Oslo - HISP Centre (DHIS2)- Home - HISP Centre (uio.no)
Contact
Department for Human Development