Spearheading partners

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO coordinates the major strategic planning, management and administration processes of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. WHO is responsible for the systematic collection, collation and dissemination of standardized information on strategy implementation and impact, particularly in the areas of surveillance and supplementary immunization activities.
WHO also coordinates operational and basic research, provides technical and operational support to ministries of health, and coordinates training and deployment of human resources for supplementary technical assistance.

In addition, WHO has a lead role in establishing certification-standard surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), resource mobilization, donor coordination, advocacy and communications. WHO serves as secretariat to the certification process and facilitates implementation and monitoring of biocontainment activities.

Rotary International

Rotary International is the world's first and largest humanitarian service organization with a global network of 1.2 million members in more than 170 countries. Through its PolioPlus programme, established in 1985, Rotary was the first to have the vision of a polio-free world.

Rotary’s primary responsibilities include fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment.

More than one million Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to polio eradication. Rotary members also provide valuable field support during National Immunization Days through social mobilization and by administering the oral polio vaccine to children.

Rotary is the main private sector donor to polio eradication, and will have contributed more than US$ 1.2 billion by 2013.

In November 2007, Rotary International entered in a unique partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to inject a further US$ 555 million into the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC deploys epidemiologists, public health experts, and scientists to WHO and UNICEF for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. It also provides funding for the oral polio vaccine and for a wide range of technical expertise and laboratory support.

CDC works as a 'viral detective', using its state-of-the-art virological surveillance expertise (genetic fingerprinting) to investigate outbreaks of polio, identify the strain of poliovirus involved and pinpoint its exact geographical origin.


CDC also assists in the development and monitoring of the Global Polio Laboratory Network, and conducts research to facilitate development of post-certification immunization and surveillance policies. CDC plays a lead role in the independent monitoring of the GPEI Strategic Plan 2010–12 by collating the data to assess the status of each of the major milestones.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF procures and distributes polio vaccines for routine and supplementary immunizations. With WHO, UNICEF supports countries in the implementation of intensified National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub-national Immunization Days (SNIDs), as well as mop-up campaigns in countries.

UNICEF helps country programmes develop communication strategies that are vital to local acceptance of the vaccine. UNICEF also helps country programmes develop action plans and secure logistics to access hard-to-reach places, including in countries affected by conflict.

UNICEF contributes to the development of eradication policies, plans of action, training materials and public information, and is an active partner in advocacy and resource mobilization.

Related links

World Health Organization: polio

Rotary international: polio

CDC: polio

UNICEF: polio eradication