Pandemic Governance: the Road Ahead

Happy New Year from Spark Street Advisors,

With the May 2024 deadline for agreement on a pandemic accord quickly approaching,?we are sharing?our latest?analyses and a recap of what to expect in the weeks ahead.

Latest developments

In December 2023, the INB Bureau recommended that Member States propose amendments to the consensus draft text of the pandemic agreement by 15 January 2024 in order to be considered in February at the 8th meeting of the INB.

The deadline of 15 January 2024?appears to have been?too short of a timeline. Concerns around access and benefits sharing, equity, and financing mechanisms, continue to be sticking points.?As it stands,?the INB is moving forward without the adoption of a?formal negotiating text,?and Member States will continue?informal discussions with a tight timeline.??

Recent Analysis

Following the 7th?meeting of the INB in December 2023, a decision on the exact type of instrument to be agreed upon is still under consideration. While the latest draft text?is entitled an “agreement,” the document also refers to a potential “convention” or “other type of international instrument.” In this?policy?brief,?we explain the distinctions between these terms.

In?the January edition of the?Lancet?Global Health,?we share?our perspective on the current draft. Key takeaways include:

• Gaps exist in crucial areas such as health system resilience and equal access.
• There is a distinct lack of an independent accountability mechanism.?

Based on our findings, we call for a commitment in the text to?the establishment of?a dedicated, independent?monitoring committee to promote?compliance.?

Looking ahead

In terms of next steps, the 8th and 9th meetings ("marathon sessions") of the INB will take place in Geneva from 19 February - 1 March 2024 and 18 - 29 March 2024, respectively.?

We are tracking the process and are waiting to hear if the discussions will be open or accessible to registered stakeholders.