James Droop has a long track record of experience in international development and global health, with particular expertise in financing, market shaping and access for SRH products and other life-saving health commodities. He has been SEMA’s acting Global Head of Markets since mid-2022. Prior to this, James worked at the UK government Department for International Development (DFID) and subsequently the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). While there, he developed and led the UK government’s large global health market shaping portfolio, including funding to Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). He was also responsible for UK funding to UNFPA Supplies and drove efforts to strengthen reproductive health commodity security, including several successful access initiatives for SRH products such as implants, injectables and hormonal IUD. He has co-created innovative access initiatives, such as MedAccess, the social finance company; the Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for the pneumococcal vaccine; ATscale, the global partnership for assistive technology; and the UNFPA Bridge Funding Mechanism. He was the UK representative to the G7 Health Experts’ group and also led UK government work to accelerate the development and rollout of Ebola vaccines during the 2014 outbreak as well as supporting efforts to drive access to vaccines, treatments and tests during the Covid-19 response.

James has also worked at the World Bank, IMF, UK Treasury and as a consultant providing advice to multilaterals, donors and the private sector. His education includes a Master’s in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and a Bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Cambridge University.