A Conversation with Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance | The Futures Summit

April 15, 2026 • 9:00 – 9:30 am EDT

Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar sat down with Katherine E. Bliss, Director and Senior Fellow, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, to discuss the Alliance’s ambitious plan of work for the next five years; the ways in which Gavi is reforming to improve efficiencies, promote country ownership and self-sufficiency, overcome resource constraints and meet the geopolitical challenges of the current moment; and how Gavi and other multilateral organizations, including the Global Fund, the World Bank, and CEPI, can better partner with donors, co-financing governments, and the private sector to increase access to lifesaving services, prevent deadly outbreaks, and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations in low- and lower-middle income countries.  

The Futures Summit: A New Era of Development Cooperation

This studio interview is part of CSIS's flagship development conference taking place over several days of in-person and virtual convening. From April 10-17, 2026, the CSIS Futures Summit explored how best to navigate and advance this new era of cooperation, paying close attention to the shifts in global leadership, new models and partnerships, and what should come next.

For the full agenda, visit the CSIS Futures Summit.

The CSIS Futures Summit is made possible through generous support from Chevron Inc. (Founding sponsor), ADM, Cisco, and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C. 

Contact Information

  • Madeleine McLean
  • Former Program Manager and Research Associate, Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative and Project on Prosperity and Development
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Katherine E. Bliss
Director and Senior Fellow, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, Global Health Policy Center

Dr. Sania Nishtar

Chief Executive Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance