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About the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board As an independent monitoring and advocacy body, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (hereafter referred to as the Board or GPMB) urges political action to prepare for and mitigate the effects of global health emergencies. Coconvened in May 2018 by the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization, the Board builds on the work of the Global Health Crises Task Force and Panel, created by the United Nations Secretary-General in the wake of the 2014- 2016 Ebola epidemic. The Board works independently of all parties, including its co-conveners, to provide the most frank assessments and recommendations possible. The findings, interpretations, conclusions and opinions expressed in this report and by Board members represent their views only and not those of their organizations or of the co-conveners. The 15-member Board is made up of political leaders, heads of agencies, and experts, led jointly by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, formerly Prime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the World Health Organization and Mr Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Members serve on the Board in their individual capacities. The goals of the Board are to: • assess the world’s ability to protect itself from health emergencies • identify critical gaps to preparedness across multiple perspectives • advocate for preparedness activities with national and international leaders and decision-makers. The Board differs from other similar commissions and mechanisms, which are time-limited and often specific to one agency or sector. The Board, with a five-year initial term and benefiting from the engagement of independent experts and the support of a professional Secretariat, will monitor preparedness across a broad range of actors and sectors, urging specific actions to drive change. It complements and enhances existing accountability functions of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, the World Bank and other stakeholders. Approach to the first annual report – a focus on seven urgent actions In this first annual report, the Board explores and identifies the most urgent needs and actions required to accelerate preparedness for health emergencies, focusing in particular on biological risks manifesting as epidemics and pandemics. The Board analysed evidence and commissioned seven review papers that explore the challenges of preparedness through various lenses: governance and coordination; country preparedness capacities; research and development; financing; enhancing community engagement and trust; preparing for and managing the fallout of a high-impact respiratory pathogen pandemics; and lessons learned and persistent gaps revealed by recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in Africa. The Board has drawn on these papers and other data to identify areas where preparedness efforts are working and where they are faltering. (1) The Board identified seven actions that leaders must implement to prepare for pressing threats. Some can - and should - be accomplished immediately whereas others are more long-term. One of the Board’s first priorities will be to develop a monitoring framework to track progress not only on these actions, but on other national and global political commitments as well. The Board looks forward to engaging with global, regional and national leaders and stakeholders on ways to accelerate progress on these actions. All background documents, the Board’s monitoring framework, strategy, annual plans and related documents are available on the Board’s website. Future GPMB work Future reports will monitor progress on preparedness for other types of health emergencies, such as those caused by natural disasters. In addition to its monitoring function, the Board will monitor progress in preparedness, assess emerging issues and make additional recommendations as needed. ABOUT THE GLOBAL PREPAREDNESS