IFANCA, key contributors secure $1.9bn for global polio eradication

The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), a sponsorship partner of the event, joined world leaders, donors and philanthropic organisations at a global pledging forum hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, which raised $1.9 billion to support the final push to eradicate polio.

Held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, "Investing in Humanity: United to End Polio" convened senior officials such as Pakistan’s planning minister Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation.

Pledges came from governments and organisations including $1.2 billion from the Gates Foundation, $140 million from the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, $450 million from Rotary International, $100 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies, $154 million from Pakistan, and $4 million from IFANCA — whose founder and leadership were highlighted as key partners advancing the global health effort.

“Today’s pledges demonstrate our shared determination to end polio and protect every child from this preventable disease,” said Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity. “Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are proud to stand with countries, donors and partners as we work hand-in-hand to achieve it.”

Dr Tedros said the funding will be “instrumental” in helping the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reach children in the remaining endemic countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, while Bill Gates noted that completing eradication “demands the same determination that got us this far.”

IFANCA President Dr Muhammad Munir Chaudry reaffirmed the organisation’s role in the effort: “Supporting children and protecting the most vulnerable is central to IFANCA’s mission. We are proud to renew our commitment to the global effort to end polio… The last mile is the hardest, but we stand with our partners across GPEI to finish the job.”

The pledges will help close the remaining financing gap in GPEI’s 2022–2029 strategy, supporting the vaccination of 370 million children annually and strengthening health systems in affected regions.

The UAE continues to play a prominent role in eradication efforts. Since 2011, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has committed $525 million to polio initiatives, while the Emirates Polio Campaign has delivered more than 850 million doses to children in Pakistan.

Despite significant progress — global polio cases have fallen by over 99% since 1988 — wild poliovirus persists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and variant outbreaks continue across 18 countries.

The event marks the third major pledging moment hosted in Abu Dhabi, following similar convenings in 2013 and 2019 that collectively mobilised $6.6 billion for polio eradication.