Japan

Japan is the world’s fourth-largest donor of development aid, and is likely to play an increasingly important role in global health following the response to the pandemic. We value our trusted partnership with the Government of Japan that champions Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the private sector of Japan who continue to develop cutting edge technology and innovation.

In 2013, the foundation, the Government of Japan, and several Japanese pharmaceutical companies launched the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, a public-private partnership that creates new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This innovative model has been replicated by other countries who are also committed to developing new health technologies that can benefit the low- and middle-income countries.

Our collaborations in Japan range across various sectors and partners, including our polio eradication loan with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and product developments with companies such as LIXIL which created the affordable and innovative toilet, SATO. We also supported the launch of WELCO Lab for Global Health, a platform of companies that are committed to delivering solutions to tackle global health challenges, together with Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting (MURC). We work with many NGOs including Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE), SDGs Promise Japan, Results Japan, and ETIC.

In 2020, the Government of Japan made investments in COVID-19 vaccine development and response. It was the first high-income country to join the COVAX initiative, which is working with vaccine manufacturers to provide equitable global access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for both rich and poor countries.