Marrakech – Morocco formally signed on Monday a $5 million donation agreement with Gavi, becoming the first North African country to financially support the global vaccine alliance.
The signing took place in Casablanca on the sidelines of the first edition of GITEX Future Health Africa. Mohammed Tarik Bchir, Director of the Treasury and External Finances, signed on behalf of Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah.
Bjorn Gillsater, Gavi’s Executive Director for Donor Relations, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization, signed for the immunization body. Health and Social Protection Minister Amine Tehraoui attended the ceremony.
The agreement formalizes a pledge Morocco first announced in Geneva on December 3, 2025, marking its debut as a Gavi donor ahead of the alliance’s 2026-2030 strategic period.
Bchir described the agreement as an expression of “shared responsibility” and “active solidarity,” linking it to Morocco’s domestic reform agenda.
He noted that the contribution aligns with the country’s ongoing rollout of universal social protection and the modernization of its national health system. He added that Gavi has delivered significant results since its founding, particularly in expanding vaccination coverage and reducing child mortality.
The treasury director also stressed that the agreement goes beyond a financial instrument, framing it as a commitment to a long-term partnership built on constructive dialogue and concrete outcomes.
Gillsater, for his part, acknowledged Morocco’s contribution and noted that it positions the kingdom as the first country in North Africa to back the alliance financially.
He characterized Morocco’s engagement as a strategic investment in vaccination as a driver of stability, prosperity and development across Africa. He also pointed to Morocco’s national vaccination record as a model other African countries could draw from.
When Morocco first announced the pledge in December, Gavi’s leadership offered broader context for its significance.
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CEO Sania Nishtar said at the time that 80% of Gavi’s resources during its next strategic period would go to Africa, calling Morocco’s role central to that effort. Nishtar also cited King Mohammed VI’s vision for continental vaccine manufacturing, which she observed during a visit to the country.
Speaking at the December announcement, Health Minister Tehraoui tied the donation to lessons drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic and to Morocco’s commitment to cooperation with partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO).
Finance Minister Fettah described the contribution as part of ongoing cooperation with Gavi aimed at ensuring equitable and sustainable access to vaccination for vulnerable populations.
The donation feeds into Gavi 6.0, the alliance’s upcoming strategic cycle, which targets the vaccination of 500 million children between 2026 and 2030. The period will also be shaped by Gavi Leap, a reform initiative designed to shift the alliance’s operating model toward greater country ownership, co-investment and alignment with national development priorities.
Gavi estimates that immunization saves four to five million lives annually and generates a return of $54 for every dollar invested. Since its creation in 2000, the alliance has helped immunize over 1.2 billion children and prevented more than 20.6 million future deaths across 78 lower-income countries.
Morocco’s move also coincides with its broader push to establish itself as a regional hub for vaccine manufacturing and health innovation on the continent.
