The two organisations have launched a Request for Expression of Interest (EOI), inviting vaccine developers and manufacturers worldwide to provide details of their plans to develop vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus. The initiative is expected to help accelerate manufacturing, improve vaccine readiness, and ensure rapid access to doses once an effective vaccine becomes available.
The Expression of Interest, issued by UNICEF on Wednesday, follows Gavi's recent commitment of US$40 million aimed at speeding up access to vaccines for the virus. Information gathered through the process will guide how the funding can be deployed to support the most promising vaccine candidates, particularly in scaling up production and ensuring emergency supplies are available when needed.
The EOI also builds on ongoing collaboration between UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), vaccine manufacturers, and other partners working to identify and prioritise viable vaccine candidates.
According to UNICEF and Gavi, any future agreements resulting from the initiative will focus on strengthening manufacturing readiness, including producing investigational vaccine doses, scaling up production capacity, and preparing vaccines for emergency deployment during outbreaks, subject to appropriate policy recommendations.
The Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, regarded as one of the most severe and highly lethal Ebola species, is currently responsible for outbreaks in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Health authorities have confirmed 1,094 cases and 277 deaths in eastern DRC, with some of the victims being children. Uganda has also recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, underscoring growing concerns about the spread of the disease across the region.
While a global stockpile of vaccines exists for the Ebola Zaire strain—funded by Gavi and procured and managed by UNICEF on behalf of the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision—there is currently no approved vaccine to protect against the Bundibugyo species.
To strengthen the outbreak response, Gavi has committed a total of US$50 million through its First Response Fund (FRF). The funding includes up to US$10 million to protect routine immunisation programmes, safeguard healthcare workers, and support emergency response activities, while up to US$40 million has been earmarked as pull financing to accelerate vaccine development and access.
The organisations said the Expression of Interest will enable Gavi to design a financing strategy capable of delivering the greatest public health impact by accelerating manufacturing scale-up, supporting regulatory processes such as WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) and WHO prequalification, and securing access to both investigational and licensed vaccine doses.
The goal is to ensure that once a vaccine is proven safe and effective, and relevant policy recommendations are issued, doses will already be available for rapid deployment during emergencies or through established procurement systems for licensed vaccines.
As part of the call, vaccine developers and manufacturers are expected to provide information on their vaccine candidates, including projected development timelines, manufacturing capacity, product suitability, and how their proposals align with global public health priorities.
UNICEF and Gavi noted that special consideration will be given to proposals involving vaccine production within Africa, a move aimed at strengthening regional manufacturing capacity and improving the continent's ability to respond to future disease outbreaks.
The organisations added that responses received from manufacturers will also help inform UNICEF's future vaccine procurement decisions as global efforts continue to strengthen preparedness against emerging Ebola threats.