New Delhi (Agency): India is set to receive a grant of USD 25 million from the G20 Pandemic Fund to reinforce the nation’s animal health system. This fund, created during Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, is designed to assist low-to-middle-income countries in financing initiatives such as disease surveillance, research, and improved vaccine access.
The grant’s approval was announced by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which outlined India’s USD 25-million proposal. The proposal focuses on enhancing animal health security in the country to better prepare for and respond to pandemics.
Key interventions within the proposal encompass the following areas:
– Strengthening Disease Surveillance:** Integrating and reinforcing the early warning system for disease detection.
– Laboratory Network Expansion:** Upgrading and expanding the existing laboratory network for efficient disease management.
– Data Systems Improvement:** Enhancing interoperable data systems and building analytical capacity for risk assessment and communication.
– Transboundary Animal Diseases:** Fortifying health security measures against transboundary animal diseases and promoting India’s role in regional cooperation through cross-border collaboration.
The G20 Pandemic Fund received a substantial number of proposals, with 350 Expressions of Interest (EoI) and 180 full proposals in the first call. The total grant requests exceeded USD 2.5 billion, against an available envelope of USD 338 million. The fund’s Governing Board approved 19 grants in its first funding round, aiming to boost pandemic resilience in 37 countries across six regions.
The grant will facilitate dedicated resources for pandemic prevention, readiness, and response in India, encouraging increased investment and coordination among partners. It also serves as an advocacy platform.
The project’s ultimate goal is to diminish the risk of animal-borne pathogens transitioning to human populations, thereby protecting health, nutritional security, and the livelihoods of vulnerable groups. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lead the project’s implementation, collaborating with The World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The COVID-19 pandemic’s severe impact on human life, the economy, and social structures has underscored the urgent need for collective action to create robust one-health systems. With five out of the six World Health Organization (WHO)-declared public health emergencies in recent decades originating from animals, a ‘One Health’ approach focusing on animal health security has become essential for pandemic preparedness and response. The grant from the G20 Pandemic Fund is a step in that direction for India.