Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
Partner since 2021
For over 40 years Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) has guided industry leaders, governmental bodies and consumers on issues related to halal food, nutrition and pharmaceutical products around the world.
IFANCA is the founding member of the World Halal Food Council, a global 55-member organization that has been instrumental in building vaccine confidence. Through the Council, IFANCA works with regulatory bodies and pharma companies to create transparency and trust among Muslim communities.
Advancing the Global Eradication of Polio
In 2026, IFANCA committed an additional $4 million to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), reinforcing its commitment to protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases. This new investment will help UNICEF and its partners sustain critical polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan—the only two countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic—while strengthening outbreak prevention and response in at-risk countries around the world.
UNICEF helps vaccinate hundreds of millions of children against polio each year, bringing the world closer to a future where no child is paralyzed by this preventable disease.
IFANCA's support builds on its 2022 commitment of $1.8 million to GPEI and reflects the organization's continued dedication to advancing global health equity through strategic partnerships that improve the lives of children and families worldwide.
“Supporting children and protecting the most vulnerable is central to IFANCA’s mission,” said IFANCA President Dr. Muhammad Munir Chaudry. “We are proud to renew our commitment to the global effort to end polio and to help ensure every child is reached with lifesaving protection. The last mile is the hardest, but we stand with our partners across GPEI to finish the job and create a world finally free of polio.”
Responding to COVID-19 and building public trust in vaccines
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, IFANCA leveraged its expertise, influence and global network to support UNICEF’s global work as part of COVAX. In June 2021, IFANCA committed $3 million to support UNICEF efforts leading COVID-19 vaccine procurement and supply to ensure equitable distribution of doses to 144 low and middle-income countries.
IFANCA support also backed UNICEF’s work with the World Health Organization, partners and communities to address misinformation and build trust in the vaccines and in the health systems delivering them.
Speaking to the impact of IFANCA's support, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships Charlotte Petri-Gornitzka said it allowed UNICEF and partners to "bring reliable vaccine information to parents, caregivers and educators based on facts and science."