Santiago Cornejo

Santiago Cornejo is the director of country engagement in the Office of the COVAX Facility. In this role, Santiago oversees the team responsible of managing the relationship with COVAX participants, particularly those participants that are not eligible for Gavi support. Santiago also supported the development of the COVAX Facility, including leading the design of participants’ eligibility, benefits and contributions. Santiago is also the director for immunization financing and sustainability at the Gavi Alliance to enable the sustainability of immunization achievements in Gavi’s transitioning countries. In this role he coordinates the implementation and Alliance support to Gavi’s co-financing, eligibility and transition policies.  

Santiago joined Gavi in 2008 and during his time he has led the development of Gavi’s policies, including its co-financing, transition and eligibility and the transparency and accountability policies. Santiago also served as senior portfolio manager for Latin America and Lusophone countries and as acting director for country grants and renewals overseeing GAVI’s review process for country proposals, monitoring progress and renewal of support.  

Santiago has over 20 years of cumulative work experience in the field of health and immunization financing. He started his career in 1999 with the Pan-American Health Organization in Washington, DC. He has successively held roles with the Vaccine Fund and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Further Santiago also worked in academia at the Center for Global Health at the George Washington University.  

Santiago holds a master’s degree in international development with a specialization on international public health policy from George Washington University.