Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Sunday at the launch of the G-20 pandemic fund, that the amount of money raised so far to improve preparedness for future pandemics was not yet sufficient.
The fund launched by G-20 chair Indonesia is targeted at low-to-middle-income countries to finance efforts like surveillance, research and better access to vaccines, among other measures.
"I expect bigger support," the president said in a video address to an event in Bali where the G-20 holds a summit this week.
The fund has raised about $1.4 billion so far, including contributions from Indonesia, the United States and the European Union, as well as from donors and philanthropic organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It was created amid anger among many developing countries over their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, when richer countries often hoarded the bulk of resources such as vaccines to fight the virus.
The World Bank, which will serve as the fund's trustee, and the World Health Organization (WHO), which is advising on the facility, estimated in a report that the annual funding gap for pandemic preparedness is $10.5 billion.
Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the fund is expected to increase in size with contributions from France and Saudi Arabia. She did not specify by how much.
She called for proposals from countries looking to access the fund.
