JSI Wins Global MOMENTUM Award to Strengthen Immunization Programs

USAID’s MOMENTUM Award Will Help Countries on Journey to Self-Reliance 

WASHINGTON DC, August 12, 2020: JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., has been awarded a new cooperative agreement from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that will strengthen immunization programs around the world by identifying and removing persistent bottlenecks and barriers to planning, delivery, demand, and uptake of immunization services. 

This new award, valued at up to $55 million, falls under USAID’s MOMENTUM suite of projects and will strengthen routine immunization programs and mitigate disruption of immunization services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also help countries prepare for the future introduction and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

“JSI is pleased to partner with USAID to implement this timely and important program to identify and bring innovation to overcome the barriers to effective immunization systems,” says Carolyn Hart, JSI vice president for international programs. “We are eager to use our deep expertise to reverse declining immunization rates, reach unimmunized and under immunized populations and expand vaccination access throughout the life course.”

While vaccines remain one the world’s most important tools for protecting against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, stagnating and declining immunization rates over the last several years put mothers and children at risk of chronic disease and untimely death in many countries. 

JSI will lead the project in collaboration with the following partners: PATH, Accenture Development Partnerships, CORE Group, Results for Development (R4D), The Manoff Group (TMG), and Gobee Group.

‘The project is coming at a critical juncture and we are fully poised to bring the collective expertise of our partnership to co-create and work with stakeholders to reimagine immunization to overcome long-standing issues that have led to stagnation or decline in immunization,” commented project director Dr. Folake Olayinka. “We look forward to working collaboratively to accelerate effective interventions that address the immediate impact of COVID-19, prepare for new vaccines, and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all.”

USAID’s investment comes at a pivotal moment, with the global community committing to achieve equitable access to vaccines for all by 2030 and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting immunization services worldwide. 

USAID’s MOMENTUM suite of projects aims to increase the capacity of host-country institutions and local organizations to introduce, deliver, scale-up, and sustain the use of evidence-based, high-quality maternal, newborn, and child health care, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health care.

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. is a nonprofit global public health organization and a global leader in strengthening routine immunization systems as well as new vaccine introductions. JSI is dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities and to provide an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause.