Berbérati, Central African Republic – On 2 June 2025, a kick-off event for the Gavi civil society organisation (CSO) fund manager mechanism in the Central African Republic (CAR) was held in Berbérati in the south-west of the country. This initiative aims to strengthen vaccination coverage in health regions, with a focus on zero-dose and under-immunised children in missed communities, by removing barriers to accessing vaccination services. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Health and Population, Dr Pierre Somse, and attended by local stakeholders, international partners, community representatives and leaders, members of the Gavi CSO team and MannionDaniels, the consortium lead delivering the Gavi CSO fund manager mechanism.

At the event, the Minister highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration between all stakeholders, including CSOs, community leaders, local authorities, non-conventional partners, and technical and financial partners. He emphasised the need to adapt strategies to local contexts to eliminate social, cultural and geographical barriers that hinder access to vaccines. In his speech, the Minister noted the importance of integrated and holistic CSO projects that align with national priorities and existing activities.

Keynote presentations were delivered by the Gavi CSO team and Jacob-Zophi Mboyo, the MannionDaniels Strategic Advisor in CAR. These presentations detailed the mapping of target areas, emphasising the integration of community strategies and local mobilisation to reach hard-to-reach populations. The Strategic Advisor echoed the Minister of Health and Population in his remarks, encouraging the CSO grantees to take a holistic approach, tailoring their activities to suit the realities of maternal and child health on the ground, including the parents’ living environment, vaccine availability and accessibility.

This launch reinforces a shared commitment to removing barriers to vaccination and ensuring health for all – especially missed communities – in CAR. The event was a unique opportunity for communication and alignment between key stakeholders, giving grantees a platform to share and reflect on their planned activities, and building strong partnerships for the project implementation ahead.

The event concluded with Dr Somse reaffirming the government’s commitment to mobilising partners to achieve full vaccination coverage. The grantees expressed their enthusiasm and determination to make this project a model of success for other regions of the country.