Rotary is a membership organization made up of 1.2 million people of action,
who use their professional and leadership skills to bring
positive sustainable change to communities around the world.
Our top priority is the global eradication of polio.
Along with our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative,
we've reduced cases of polio by more than 99.9 percent.
The word sustainability is in Rotary's DNA.
Rotary clubs exist in almost all communities,
and every community is a home for Rotary.
So, the activities we do are local.
We are working within and for our own communities.
We don't necessarily use the word sustainability to describe our activities,
but they inherently promote sustainability.
The partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
include the World Health Organization,
UNICEF, the Center for Disease Control,
Rotary International and more recently,
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
This public private partnership has been working to eradicate polio for 30 years.
The partnership has been critical for identifying strategies to address
challenges and build on progress over the years, especially,
as polio was isolated into areas with unique geographical, political,
economic, and social factors that made reaching
and vaccinating children more difficult.
This has required unique approaches and innovations that
have helped to support the broader public health infrastructure.
Rotary first imagined a world without polio after effectively helping to
immunize six million children against polio in the Philippines in 1979.
In 1985, Rotary expanded its mission by launching the Polio Plus program,
which was the first initiative to target
polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children.
And since then, it has remained our flagship project.
Rotary members have donated time and money to help immunize more
than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public private partnership.
And Rotary's role is focused on advocacy,
fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and awareness building.
Rotary has a rich partnership with all of
the members of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
And each organization offers unique resources
and expertise in the fight against polio,
and all are passionate and dedicated to the goal of eliminating this disease globally.
Rotary and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have independently partnered for
more than a decade to raise the necessary funding for polio eradication activities.
With Rotary's commitment to raising US $50 million per year,
over the next three years,
and a two to one match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
the two organizations will commit at least US
$450 million for polio eradication efforts.
Rotary has learned that to ensure sustainable results,
any project or programs should include the following.
First, select an ambitious and achievable goal.
Rotary's unwavering commitment to the completion of polio eradication has helped
keep governments and health agencies accountable
and kept the program moving forward.
Next, develop a strong partnership.
In creating the Polio Plus program and serving as
a spearheading partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative,
Rotary has proven the value of a civil society voice for building coalitions and
including the participation of expert advisers
to meet the changing needs of the program.
The development of strong partnership is
an essential component of ensuring the outcome of sustainable development.
Next, place value on business acumen and passion for volunteerism.
This brings a unique grass roots perspective
to the program that has helped drive
fundraising and continue keeping polio
on the agenda for national governments and the general public.
Rotary does this both through
unique fundraising campaigns and in polio
infected countries like Nigeria and Pakistan,
where health camps have provided basic health services, and in India,
where wellness camps provide free consultation
and services in addition to polio drops.
Rotary was also able to negotiate days of
tranquility in areas of conflict like Sri Lanka.
Next, develop grant review and performance monitoring.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a project of financial complexity,
which requires significant administrative
support at the international and local levels.
Rotary has worked to develop processes to ensure strong accountability,
including a rigorous grant review process and
emergency funding mechanisms that can help address
emergency funding needs up to US $500,000.
Next, carry out program implementation and innovation.
On the ground, Rotary members have used their knowledge of
local conditions to help address specific program needs.
In Pakistan, this led to the development of
permanent travel posts to reach children
crossing the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary also provides funding to WHO and UNICEF to fund vaccinators that work on
the ground in local languages to educate and raise
awareness about the benefits of polio and other vaccinations.
Next, leverage international advocacy.
Rotary's position as a non-partisan NGO has helped it to navigate
advocacy issues and leverage our advantage as
a civil society organization when others may not have access.
They are constituent-based and can raise concerns as
citizens living in areas where polio is impacting communities.
Rotary members have been able to gain the support of religious leaders and
Islamic scholars to help educate people about the safety of the vaccine.
Next, build communications and general awareness.
It is important to engage the general public to build
support and awareness of Rotary's role in the polio eradication effort.
This helps to promote membership and highlight
the historic nature of the campaign.
Even as case counts drop,
having a professional staff has helped elevate
Rotary's visibility in the partnership and externally.
Some unique campaigns have been the lighting of
iconic structures with the "End Polio Now" brand,
the world's biggest commercial,
where more than 100,000 people from
117 countries posted selfies in support of polio eradication.
Rotary learned to elevate its communications activities,
incentivizing giving with a match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
and recognizing donors for their contributions.
The success of a disease prevention program
depends on the level of social and political commitment.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative accomplished
this through coordinated communications efforts from all partners,
our relentless pursuit for reaching every last child with
the vaccine and finding themes that resonated with local populations.
Ban Ki-moonDistinguished Chair Professor
