COVID-19: COVAX Civil Society and Community Representation

COVID-19: COVAX Civil Society and Community Representation

CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), Gavi and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are seeking representatives from civil society and community organisations (CSOs) to participate in COVAX – the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator – which aims to develop, manufacture and fairly allocate 2 billion doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021 to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CSOs will play a role in the development and implementation of the COVAX initiative as well as the deployment of any successful vaccine through COVAX.

Specifically, CEPI are looking for CSO representatives to participate in coordination meetings and a number of specific workstreams of COVAX, in particular:

Technical review group

Enabling Science SWAT

Manufacturing SWAT

Clinical development and operations SWAT

Vaccine strategy, Access and allocation, and Country readiness and delivery coordination group and sub-groups.

It is anticipated that the roles of CSOs will include:

Fostering the necessary support at a political and community engagement level to ensure equitable access and delivery of future COVID-19 vaccine.

Providing in-depth subject matter expertise in one or more areas including vaccine R&D, manufacturing, delivery, demand, access and allocation, policy and governance.

Acting as an advocate for civil society and community perspectives as appropriate.

CEPI are also looking for representatives’ input in building public trust and capacity across healthcare systems for COVID-19 vaccination programmes.

Nominated representatives should:

Be a recognised leader and sufficiently expert and well-networked to provide meaningful guidance and contributions to the COVAX Pillar mission, eg through political and community engagement to foster the support necessary to secure equitable access and/or delivery of future COVID-19 vaccines.

Hold a senior role within a globally-recognised CSO with broad capabilities in relation to the pandemic response.

Have a sound understanding of access to immunisation and essential services in humanitarian contexts, hard to reach areas, and fragile or conflict-affected territories (this is considered a strong advantage).

The deadline for applications is 25 August 2020.

​More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.