Tanzania in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Thursday officially launched the Pandemic Fund Project in Mwanza.
This landmark initiative, supported by catalytic funding from the Pandemic Fund, aims to strengthen Tanzania’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies and pandemics.
Tanzania received a US$25 million grant from the Pandemic Fund and mobilised an additional US$7 million in co-investment and US$6.7 million in co-financing, bringing together strong technical and financial partnerships.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and grounded in a One Health approach, the project is coordinated with the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. As implementing entities, FAO focuses on animal health, UNICEF leads risk communication and community engagement, and WHO strengthens human health systems and emergency readiness.
Hosted under the theme “Strengthening Capacity for Prevention, Preparedness, Detection and Response to Pandemics and other Public Health Emergencies in Tanzania,” the launch brought together high-level government officials, implementing entities, development partners, and technical stakeholders committed to strengthening health systems and intersectoral collaboration.
Tanzania, including both Mainland and Zanzibar, continues to experience steady economic growth alongside increasing risks of zoonotic and cross-border disease transmission.
Despite strong adherence to the International Health Regulations (IHR), the country faces challenges in disease detection, laboratory capacity, and early warning systems.
The project aligns with Tanzania’s National Action Plan for Health Security and aims to reduce the impact of future epidemics while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
The project is implemented through coordinated technical workstreams focusing on strengthening surveillance and early warning systems, enhancing laboratory networks and diagnostics, and building a skilled health workforce capable of responding to public health emergencies and pandemics. Each workstream is led by the relevant implementing entity and supported by national stakeholders.
WN/as/APA