Global stockpile for health emergency response: A distributed strategy for pandemic preparedness in a post–COVID 19, fragmenting world

This paper outlines how the COVID‑19 pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in global disaster risk reduction for health emergencies, particularly the failure of national stockpiles, supply‑chain fragility, and the absence of enforceable international allocation norms. It examines why countries struggled to secure essential medical supplies, how geopolitical fragmentation intensified shortages, and for whom a new global preparedness model is urgently needed. The publication presents a distributed, multi‑actor Global Stockpile for Health Emergency Response (GSHER) as a strategy designed for a post‑COVID‑19, increasingly divided world. 

The paper recommends establishing regionally anchored, jointly governed stockpiles that combine public, private, and multilateral capacities to ensure rapid, equitable, and depoliticised access to essential resources during future pandemics. Lessons learned emphasise diversifying manufacturing, strengthening cooperative mechanisms before crises occur, and embedding clear international rules for allocation. The paper concludes that only a decentralised yet coordinated system can enhance resilience and reduce disaster risk in future global health emergencies.