Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has no 'magic wand,' says new CEO

Sania Nishtar, who took the helm of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, nine weeks ago, is steering the organization with a fresh “6.0” strategic framework, aiming to boost impact and efficiency over the next five years. She gave us a sneak peek into her focus areas during a Devex CheckUp @ WHA77 panel on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Her key priorities include scaling innovations, simplifying grantmaking, empowering local stakeholders, and enhancing global coordination for seamless vaccine delivery. Gavi is also playing the long game, planning for the next 20 to 50 years to harness scientific advancements for “underprivileged populations.” Nishtar highlighted the importance of women's empowerment, both within Gavi and in country-facing roles, and said she aims to tackle global challenges like conflicts, climate change, and fragile health systems head-on. Gavi's upcoming launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator marks a significant step toward vaccine sovereignty for Africa. But achieving the goal requires a clear understanding of the challenges ahead and a collaborative effort among various stakeholders, she said. The accelerator aims to boost regional manufacturing capacity, but Nishtar emphasized that Gavi is just one player in a complex ecosystem. It’s no easy feat — setting up manufacturing plants involves navigating policy environments, securing investment, and building regulatory capacity. There also needs to be demand from African governments to procure from local sources. “I do not want anyone to believe that we have a magic wand and this is something that is totally within our purview, because it is not,” she said, sitting alongside Muhammad Ali Pate on the panel. “Our role is just one in a very long chain.” You might remember, Pate initially accepted the Gavi job, but then had a change of heart and now serves as the coordinating minister of health and social welfare in Nigeria. Devex moderator and editor, Rumbi Chakamba, asked why he declined the role, but he artfully sidestepped the question. Pate stressed the need for Gavi to embrace technological shifts in vaccine manufacturing and adapt to decentralized supply chains. The old model, he noted, has dominated for the past 20 years but is now being challenged by new technological advancements in vaccine manufacturing, shifting from biologicals to chemistry. So, he asked, will GAVI and its partners commit to a new paradigm of global health equity, or revert to outdated models? The success of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator hinges on this critical choice.