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Joe Cerrell, Managing Director, Global Policy and Advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Solidarity Fund Board Member, speaks at the Vaccines for All High-Level Roundtable on May 27, 2021.
As the world works to recover from the devastating economic shock of COVID-19, Pope Francis and the Catholic Church have been unique voices in the international community, drawing from vast experience to promote inclusive economic development in the future, calling other faith and development leaders to work together to catalyze true global change.
GSF has responded to this call to action, and our network draws from its diverse strengths to support this leadership. During the time since the pandemic began, actions GSF has taken or initiated include:
- A donation of $250,000 to Pope Francis in April as initial, immediate support for the Church’s response to the urgent COVID-19 crisis
- A grant of $100,000 to support interfaith Ethiopian partners on the front lines in responding to the pandemic with temporary handwashing stations, hygiene materials, billboards with information in migrants’ languages, and PPE equipment for Catholic health facilities
- Identification with the Vatican’s COVID-19 Commission of opportunities for GSF’s network to assist on its work in key priority areas in the next phase of the global response, such as health care and vaccine access, building an inclusive economy, and fundraising and communications in support of its vital work
- Research supported through UISG to assess 1) the impact of COVID-19 on the work of sisters and 2) the impact of sisters’ efforts to address the consequences of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities
- A communications campaign in partnership with UISG, to highlight the unique role sisters have played in organizing and leading community-based responses to the pandemic
- Research conducted with our inter-congregational platform members to assess the impact of COVID-19 on employment opportunities for migrants
If you’d like to learn more about the Church’s or other key development actors’ response to the pandemic, or get involved in our work to support them, please contact us.
