COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund

The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund (SRF) was an early initiative to fund the World Health Organization's COVID-19 response, including to “suppress transmission, reduce exposure, counter misinformation, protect the vulnerable, reduce mortality and morbidity and accelerate equitable access to new COVID-19 tools.”¹⁾

Leadership for the fund was supported by the WHO Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, and contributed to by many partners.

In early 2020, the World Health Organization contacted the United Nations Foundation to “help build momentum and support for its role in leading and coordinating global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond.” Just over two weeks later, the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund was launched.²⁾

In March 2021, the United Nations Foundation transferred control of the fund over to the newly-created WHO Foundation.³⁾

As of August 2021, the fund had raised $254,133,173 from over 673 083 donors. Allocations were decided by the WHO in line with its COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.⁴⁾ Recipients included the African Union/African CDC, the Big 6 Youth Organizations, the vaccine development alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRWA, WFP, and other partners.

The SRF was supported by the following organizations:^{5) 6) 7) 8)}

The primary recipient of the fund's donations was the World Health Organization, which later expanded to include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the World Food Programme (WFP).