The UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries is leading an initiative to help developing countries scale up local production of health technologies and equipment for responding to COVID-19. The Partnership is open to all developing countries.

The Technology Bank was established in 2017 to help governments develop and adapt new technologies. Its operationalization is considered the “first” achievement of an SDG target: target 17.8: “Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology.”

The Tech Bank launched the Tech Access Partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the World Health Organization (WHO) on 12 May 2020. 

The Partnership will enable developing countries to produce needed technologies themselves to address shortages for responding to COVID-19. It will connect emerging manufacturers in developing countries with the resources needed, including technical expertise, to scale up production of health technologies and equipment.

According to the press release, the Tech Access Partnership is “centered in the UN Development System’s overall approach to counter the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes scaling up global capacity for testing and treatment, providing social protections for the most vulnerable and making countries resilient to future pandemics.” [Tech Access Partnership website]