pment Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equivalThe potential threat of an influenza pandemic due to the H5N1 avian influenza virus has gained the attention of agencies and governments worldwide. Outbreaks of avian influenza (AI), once limited to East Asia, have spread rapidly to wild birds and fowl in Eastern and Western Europe, as well as Africa in a matter of months. Human cases of AI have increased dramatically as well, raising concern that the H5N1 virus could soon become transmissible by human-to-human contact. As of August 17, 2006, the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian AI reported to WHO was 239, of which there were 140 deaths.

The Bank has worked as part of a coordinated team, including WHO, OiE, FAO, the UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), since the beginning of these AI outbreaks to aid in developing and financing preparedness and response plans for a potential avian and human influenza (AHI) pandemic. Following a conference in Geneva in November, the Bank, along with the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the European Commission, organized the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza January 17–18 in Beijing. A Multi-donor Financing Framework to help meet financing needs and gaps was welcomed in Beijing with donors making pledges of US$1.9 billion to assist countries currently affected by or at risk for avian influenza. Since that meeting, a Multi-donor Trust Fund for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza was established by the Bank in late Spring 2006.

The Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility is a trust fund facility established at the World Bank to assist countries in meeting financing gaps in their AHI integrated country programs to minimize the risk and socioeconomic impact of avian and possible human pandemic influenza. The AHI Facility will be available to cofinance operations supported by the World Bank or its concessional financing affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equivale

7, 2006, the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian AI reported to WHO was 239, of which there were 140 deaths.

The Bank has worked as part of a coordinated team, including WHO, OiE, FAO, the UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC), since the beginning of these AI outbreaks to aid in developing and financing preparedness and response plans for a potential avian and human influenza (AHI) pandemic. Following a conference in Geneva in November, the Bank, along with the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the European Commission, organized the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza January 17–18 in Beijing. A Multi-donor Financing Framework to help meet financing needs and gaps was welcomed in Beijing with donors making pledges of US$1.9 billion to assist countries currently affected by or at risk for avian influenza. Since that meeting, a Multi-donor Trust Fund for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza was established by the Bank in late Spring 2006.

The Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility is a trust fund facility established at the World Bank to assist countries in meeting financing gaps in their AHI integrated country programs to minimize the risk and socioeconomic impact of avian and possible human pandemic influenza. The AHI Facility will be available to cofinance operations supported by the World Bank or its concessional financing affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equival

overnment of the People’s Republic of China and the European Commission, organized the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza January 17–18 in Beijing. A Multi-donor Financing Framework to help meet financing needs and gaps was welcomed in Beijing with donors making pledges of US$1.9 billion to assist countries currently affected by or at risk for avian influenza. Since that meeting, a Multi-donor Trust Fund for Avian Influenza and Human Pandemic Influenza was established by the Bank in late Spring 2006.

The Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility is a trust fund facility established at the World Bank to assist countries in meeting financing gaps in their AHI integrated country programs to minimize the risk and socioeconomic impact of avian and possible human pandemic influenza. The AHI Facility will be available to cofinance operations supported by the World Bank or its concessional financing affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equival

nza was established by the Bank in late Spring 2006.

The Avian and Human Influenza (AHI) Facility is a trust fund facility established at the World Bank to assist countries in meeting financing gaps in their AHI integrated country programs to minimize the risk and socioeconomic impact of avian and possible human pandemic influenza. The AHI Facility will be available to cofinance operations supported by the World Bank or its concessional financing affiliate, the International Development Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equival

pment Association (IDA), under the US$500 million Global Program for Avian Influenza (GPAI), which by the World Bank’s Board endorsed in January 2006. In countries where the Bank is not active or other agencies take the lead role, the AHI Facility can provide self-standing grants or cofinancing for other agencies’ programs. The AHI Facility can also provide grants to international organizations and to nongovernmental organizations. As of May 23, 2006, seven donors have confirmed equivalent to about US$69.3 million for the AHI Facility.