Mozambique recognised as the first-ever Gavi Leap Champion for health system reforms

Mozambique recognised as the first-ever Gavi Leap Champion for health system reforms

Dr Ussene Hilário Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique accepting the Gavi Leap Champion recognition award with Rt Hon Helen Clark, Chair of the Gavi Board (left) and Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (right). Credit: Gavi/2026

  • Mozambique becomes the first recipient of Gavi’s Leap Champion recognition for its leadership in country ownership and sustained health investment.

  • As the first country to implement unified vaccine budgets under the Gavi Leap, Mozambique is a standard bearer in the movement towards greater country sovereignty in global health.

  • Dr Ussene Hilário Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique: “We are proud to be a pioneer of the Gavi Leap initiative, which places national priorities and the health of our population at the centre of decision-making.”

New York/Geneva, 25 September 2026 – Mozambique today became the first country to receive the Gavi Leap Champion recognition. The inaugural recognition was presented in acknowledgment and appreciation of Mozambique’s leadership in country ownership, health system strengthening and sustainable health investments.

Mozambique was the first country to implement Gavi’s 2026–2030 strategic shift towards holistic immunisation budgets in alignment with its own National Immunisation Strategy, setting a new benchmark for how countries align national priorities, partner investments and health system goals around a single vision.

Driving the new approach is the Gavi Leap principle of country-centricity, which has led to a wholesale re-design of Gavi’s operating model to be simpler, less resource-intensive and more responsive to the needs of countries.

The Leap Champion recognition will be presented to countries that have achieved exceptional performance across criteria including: advancing country ownership, strengthening health systems and delivering sustainable health impact.

In acceptance remarks, Dr Ussene Hilário Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique, said: “This recognition reflects the commitment of the President of the Republic of Mozambique to strengthening our health system through country-led reforms, sustainable investment and better alignment with partners. We are proud to be a pioneer of the Gavi Leap initiative, which places national priorities and the health of our population at the centre of decision-making.”

Mozambique’s health leadership extends beyond immunisation. Through its engagement on the Lusaka Agenda and within the African Union, the country has strengthened the foundations of its health system through reforms to integrated community healthcare, health financing and supply chain priorities. A major milestone for the country was the adoption of the 2026 National Health System Law, which formalised the Community Health Subsystem and incorporated remuneration for community health workers into the national wage bill.

“Mozambique has shown us that country ownership can drive progress,” said Rt Hon Helen Clark, Chair of the Gavi Board. “By aligning national priorities, strengthening community health systems and bringing partners together around a common agenda, Mozambique embodies the ambition of the Gavi Leap and its experiences are a guide to other countries that are on the same journey.”

“Mozambique exemplifies the vision of the Gavi Leap: a country leading from the front, aligning partners behind national priorities and investing in systems that can deliver lasting impact,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “As the first country to be recognised as a Leap Champion, Mozambique has shown how strong leadership, country ownership and sustainable investments can translate into better health outcomes for children and families.”

The recognition was presented at a session on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, from global reform to country leadership and last-mile impact – a Gavi Leap dialogue, which Gavi convened.

Notes to Editors

About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organisations that fund Gavi’s work here.

Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 1.2 billion children – and prevented more than 20.6 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 78 lower‑income countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningococcal, yellow fever and mpox vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation, above all the zero-dose children who have not received even a single vaccine shot. The Vaccine Alliance employs innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and YouTube.

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