Lessons From The Negotiations On The Pandemic Agreement: Key Learnings Over Two Years [GHF Dialogues]

Newsletter Edition #102 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

Earlier this year, during the World Health Assembly in May, we presented the first ever edition of the Geneva Health Files Dialogues - a signature series from us where we host discussions on key policy topics in global health.

We brought together experts to reflect on the lessons from the negotiations towards a new Pandemic Agreement over the last two years.

As negotiators prepare for the next set of formal meetings beginning next week on September 9, we bring you a gist of the conversation we hosted in May 2024. We hope that this will serve as a pointer for those working in this process, and a quick refresher for our new readers.

If you wish to support our signature events, drop me a line and we can chat!

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Until later.

Best,

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com. Follow us on X: @filesgeneva

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Illustration Credit: Amy Clarke, Chembe Collaborative

I. ANALYSIS

Lessons From The Negotiations On The Pandemic Agreement

Key Learnings over two years

By Priti Patnaik & Tessa Jager

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As WHO member states resume negotiations this month towards a new Pandemic Agreement, we take a step back and look at a few key lessons from these discussions over the last two years, and present what can potentially be done differently over the coming months.

Along the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, we conducted the Geneva Health Files Dialogues that brought together experts who have been tracking the process, and informed the substantive aspects of these negotiations. Below are some interventions made by these experts that we hope illuminate some of the challenges faced by countries and other stakeholders during this process.

Experts highlighted not only process concerns, but also underscored larger objectives, necessary tactical maneuvers, and reading the politics in the room, as different elements that might help lead to consensus in these often difficult negotiations.

Image Credit: Photo by Mikhail Nilov, Pexels