The World Health Organization (WHO) has signed a legally binding pact to increase global preparedness for future pandemics, following more than three years of negotiations sparked by the COVID-19 catastrophe, Reuters reported.

The pact outlines measures to prevent future outbreaks, including the creation of a global pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, improved research capabilities across regions and the development of a global supply chain and logistics network. It also advocates for stronger, more resilient healthcare systems around the world.

“This marks a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics,” the WHO said in a statement.

The agreement is widely seen as a victory for the global health agency, at a time when multilateral organizations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding, according to Reuters.

The United States withdrew from the talks earlier this year after President Donald Trump exited the WHO through an executive order in February.