World Bank Group Timeline
Pandemic Emergency Financing facility makes first commitment
The World Bank Group launched the PEF facility in May 2016 with the support of Japan, Germany and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a fast-disbursing global financing mechanism designed to protect the world against deadly pandemics. The PEF will offer coverage to all countries eligible for financing from IDA. In May 2018, the PEF cash window is triggered for the first time with a $12 million grant towards the ongoing Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The grant will support the surge in activities of the DRC Government and international responders. The PEF cash window will again pay out funds to the DRC in 2019. Then, in April 2020, it will allocate $195.84 million in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 related payout will be distributed to 64 of the world's poorest countries, with particular attention given to areas with the most vulnerable populations, especially those in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
Resource Gallery
Address by President Jim Yong Kim
Document date: July 15, 2015
President Kim's speech at the UN International Ebola Recovery Conference mentions the impending creation of the Pandemic Emergency Financing facility.
Press release -- PEF makes first12 million commitment to bridge financing gap for Ebola response in DRC
May 22, 2018
The press release includes the comments of numerous government and World Bank Group officials (online resource).
Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility: Proposed Financing from IDA
Document date: April 19, 2017
The report sets out the particulars of the Pandemic Emergency Financing facility.
Launching the Pandemic Emergency Financing facility
2017
World Bank officials discuss the Pandemic Emergency Financing facility (Photolab; Credit: The World Bank).
Health workers in Democratic Republic of Congo
2019
Health workers put their Personal Protective Equipment on before entering the quarantine zone (World Bank Group photo collection on Flickr; Credit: The World Bank).
