Saudi G20 Presidency calls for US$8 billion in Combatting the COVID-19 Pandemic

G20 Health Ministers Meeting at Saudi Arabia deliberates on steps to control COVID-19

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the holder of the G20 Presidency, has pledged
US$500 million to relevant international organizations to support global efforts in
combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. This pledge will support emergency and
preparedness response, developing and deploying new diagnostics, therapeutics and
vaccines, fulfilling unmet needs for international surveillance and coordination, and
ensuring sufficient supplies of protective equipment for health workers.
This contribution by the Kingdom comes in response to the commitment made
during the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit, which was called for and chaired by
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud last
month. G20 Leaders agreed to mobilize the needed funds for international
organizations response programs.
Saudi Arabia will allocate US$150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
and Innovation (CEPI), US$150 million to The Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunizations (GAVI), and US$200 million to other international and regional health
organizations and programs.
Recognizing the importance of global solidarity and cooperation in combatting this
pandemic, the Kingdom has called on all countries, non-governmental organizations,
philanthropies, and the private sector to take part in the global efforts to close the
required financing gap in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which is
estimated to be over $8 billion according to the Global Preparedness Monitoring
Board (GPMB).
The G20 continues to take action, under the Saudi Presidency, and will act collectively,
immediately and boldly to combat the global effects of this pandemic and to
implement priority actions across all G20 workstreams.
Further information about the G20, including the Presidency Agenda and full
program of events, can be found at www.g20.org