COVID-19: assistance for Africa [fr]
The COVID-19 epidemic is affecting the whole world. This global health crisis requires a comprehensive, multilateral and coordinated response as well as specific assistance for the most vulnerable countries.
As the world’s fifth-largest donor, France has mobilized significant resources of €1.2 billion to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the most vulnerable countries, most of which are in Africa.
France is increasing its contributions and commitment to multilateral bodies fighting the pandemic: the UN and its specialized agencies and programmes, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) as well as the relevant multilateral funds such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, or Unitaid.
France is also advocating within various multilateral and regional forums (G7, G20, European Union), in full cooperation with the African Union, to ensure Africa’s specific needs are taken into account, particularly through easier access to healthcare products stemming from research on the virus (tests, treatments and future vaccines).
France was behind the international initiative to address the impact of COVID-19 in Africa, launched on 15 April 2020 following the appeal from 18 African and European Heads of State and Government, including President Macron.
This initiative has four pillars:
- support for African healthcare systems,
- support for African research,
- humanitarian support,
- economic support.
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