Open letter to philanthropists from the UNICEF International Council 

Fellow philanthropists,  

Bringing the pandemic to an end is within our power.

We, the members of UNICEF’s International Council – a collective of over 70 individual philanthropic partners committed to improving children’s lives – are standing alongside UNICEF as it leverages decades of experience vaccinating nearly half the world’s children each year, into the most ambitious global vaccine delivery operation the world has ever seen. 
 
UNICEF is the key delivery partner of the COVAX facility – a global alliance established to guarantee fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments. It aims to help deliver at least two billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021 in more than 180 countries.
 
Looking to the year ahead, we all have a vested interest in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are rapidly distributed and equitably delivered. Some countries are beginning to see COVID-19 cases decreasing, while in other countries cases are increasing at alarming rates and overwhelming their health systems. In order to achieve worldwide success, we must reach every country urgently. The pandemic won’t truly end for anyone until it ends for everyone. 
 
We believe private philanthropists are uniquely placed to respond to this global emergency and help UNICEF close the funding gaps – an estimated need of US$659 million this year. Thanks to the agility and speed of private grant making, our funds can help accelerate the vaccine roll-out, respond quickly to changing circumstances, and enable UNICEF to work with countries not just to deliver vaccines to people but to invest in sustainable improvements in health-care systems, tackle misinformation, and engage communities – all things that UNICEF does best.  
 
This is an urgent call to action to save lives and give children the future that they deserve. Please join us by supporting UNICEF to deliver history. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Co-signed by: