The Global Fund plans to treble in size
The UK has agreed to support plans to increase the size of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. P&P's campaign has been calling for a big increase in the size of the fund and this move is a crucial first step in that process.
P&Pers out in force in 2005 to demand that G7 Finance Ministers find the money to Treat AIDS!
The Global Fund was set up in 2001 by the G8 countries as a war chest to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, diseases which together kill more than 6 million people each year. It plays a crucial part in the fight against the three diseases, but each year has struggled to persuade governments to commit the required funds.
By 2010 at least $23 billion will be needed to meet international promises on AIDS. Campaigners have been arguing that, as part of the scale-up in resources required, the Global Fund’s financing must increase significantly.
The Global Fund currently provides approximately 21% of external funding in the global battle against AIDS, 67% for malaria and 64% of TB funding and is a key instrument for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and the commitment to achieve Universal Access to treatment, care and prevention by 2010. It aims to be transparent, democratic and representative, with people living with HIV/AIDS, and non-governmental organisations, as well as donor representatives and experts sitting on its decision making board.
The UK has pledged £359 million to the Global Fund to date.
The Board of the Global Fund agreed on 26 April that the Global Fund should grow to between US$ 6 and 8 billion per year by 2010 in response to increasing demand for assistance from developing countries.
The UK delegation to the Board had been supporting a more modest target of US$ 4-6 billion by 2010 but eventually joined other delegations to push for the greater target of US$ 6-8 billion.
Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund said:
“Programs we support are currently saving 3,000 lives per day. The increase in funding will allow the world to do much, much more, to reach G8 and UN goals like providing AIDS treatment to all who need it, having every African child sleep under a bed net, and cutting the death toll of TB in half.”
P&P’s campaign has been calling for a big increase in the size of the fund in line with the resources needed to meet international commitments. This move by the board is a fantastic first step. The next test will be a meeting in Berlin in September, where donors will make their initial pledges of funding for the period 2008 - 2010.
The UK and other donors will need follow through on their commitments with additional resources if they are to ensure that the Fund’s ambitions are made a reality. Let’s hope they put their long-term, sustainable funding where their mouth is!
