GAP-f is a WHO Network hosted within the Research for Health Department in the Science Division and was created to respond to the persistent paediatric treatment gap.

Following the resolution at the 69th World Health Assembly on promoting innovation and access to quality, safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines for children, GAP-f was conceived to build on and formalize the model developed within the HIV community – providing a sustainable mechanism to accelerate the development and availability of safer, more effective paediatric formulations.

In 2024, Member States adopted a WHA resolution on Accelerating progress towards reducing maternal, newborn, and child mortality to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2. While addressing the broader maternal and child health agenda, the resolution calls for renewed investment in developing and introducing better medicines for children, and recognizes GAP-f as a key collaboration platform. This not only reaffirms GAP-f’s mission but also expands its mandate, highlighting the importance of deeper engagement with Member States.

At GAP-f, children are at the top of our agenda. While significant gains in child health have been achieved – with six million fewer children under five dying in 2016 than in 1990 – urgent action is still needed to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, including the target to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.