Both parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a set of guiding principles for future collaborative projects.

The move follows the Investors’ Forum on AMR that they staged together in November 2019 – as well as the implementation of EBRD’s first-ever Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy, which outlined a commitment to supporting antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), wherever necessary.

AMR has become an increasingly urgent global public health issue and its possible health and economic costs may hinder some countries from working towards and reaching the targets and outcomes set by the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To this end, BSAC and EBRD have agreed to align, strategically, in the following ways:

·         Fostering exchange of updated data, information and ideas backed by scientific evidence among healthcare professionals and scientists, industry, the investment community and governments involved in influencing AMR engagement and AMS, and the global governance agenda with the focus on identified countries

·         Delivering cooperation activities with national, regional and global impact and reach, on AMR engagement, such as AMR awareness-raising, infection prevention and control, AMS, microbiological laboratory capacity building and AMR surveillance building based on medical and public health professional expertise

·         Advising the Bank’s client health care facilities on AMS and surveillance at the facility level in line with internationally-recognised guidance and standards

·         Safeguarding scientific soundness of AMR engagement and public communication

·         Engaging a global stakeholder base, maximising engagement and influencing AMR engagement at all levels, creating synergies to support the implementation of AMR global governance

·         Providing support to healthcare professionals so as to strengthen their capacity to address AMR issues, through professional networks, mentoring and supporting learning through a combination of free online training resources and face-to-face training events

·         Exchanging of good practice, information and expertise to address AMR issues across different countries and regions.