Geneva-March 2024- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in partnership with Seedstars, announces INFUSE 2024: a global call for applications for innovations to bolster health systems against climate threats and to enhance immunisation delivery.
Innovation for Uptake, Scale and Equity in Immunisation, or INFUSE, aims to scale up groundbreaking global health solutions by connecting high-impact, proven innovations where countries need them most.
This year’s INFUSE initiative underscores the urgency of addressing health challenges exacerbated by climate change, including increased vulnerability to diseases sensitive to climate conditions – such as malaria – and the likelihood of more frequent and severe disease outbreaks due to extreme weather.
The programme aims to select and scale innovations that contribute to low-carbon and sustainable, resilient health care systems; enhance frontline health workers’ capacity to manage climate-related health threats; and ensure efficient vaccine distribution under challenging climate conditions.
Examples of projects supported by INFUSE in the past :
- To prevent vaccine damage from excessive heat or cold, Nexleaf Analytics and Parsyl are deploying state-of-the-art sensor technology.
- To help Pakistan and Mozambique reach under-immunised children, Zenysis Technologies is harnessing big data analytics to sharpen the accuracy of vaccine planning.
- To ensure that every child is registered in the health system and receives critical vaccines, Simprints is pioneering biometrics in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania.
Augustin Flory, Managing Director, Innovative Partnerships & Development Finance at Gavi, said: “The climate crisis has significant implications for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisation programmes. INFUSE is a great platform to mobilise the latest innovations in support of the health community to drive adaptive and mitigative actions against climate change.”
Further, Sheilla Atieno, Seedstars Program Manager Africa, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “Our collaboration with Gavi for INFUSE 2024 is crucial in our fight against the health impacts of climate change. We are calling on innovators globally to come forward with solutions that can make a tangible difference in building climate-resilient health systems.”
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The open call for INFUSE 2024 invites applications that demonstrate innovative approaches to tackle challenges faced by Gavi implementing countries and their partners, focusing on climate mitigation and resilience. The criteria for participation include scalability and potential impact in vulnerable regions; cost-effectiveness with a sustainable financial model; evidence of or potential for success; adaptability for implementation in diverse environments, especially in lower-income countries; and the strength and experience of the team behind the solution.
Investors are encouraging innovators and startups worldwide, especially those from lower-income countries, to seize this opportunity. Selected innovations will be part of the INFUSE community, receiving focused support to scale their solutions globally.
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