On the 29th June 2019 the UK demonstrated its strong commitment to global health and stepped up to pledge up to £1.4 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria over the next three years. Prime Minister Theresea May announced the pledge at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.
Mike Podmore, Director of STOPAIDS and Board Member of the Developed Country NGO Delegation to the Global Fund said, “We’re absolutely delighted that the UK has made a pledge of such magnitude. By doing so the UK shows they have heard the evidence and heeded the call of civil society and global health actors around the world for us all to step up the fight and get back on track in our efforts to end the three diseases.”
“STOPAIDS and UK civil society are united in congratulating the UK on the commitment of £1.4 billion. This pledge alone will help save 2 million lives and help us make significant progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3. Despite turbulent political times the pledge shows the UK is committed to ending the world’s deadliest diseases and supporting the poor and marginalised around the world.”
The pledge shows that the UK understands that we are at a vital moment in the response against the three diseases, and that it’s time to scale up our ambition both to lock in progress and help guarantee it for future generations.
We have fallen behind in our fight against AIDS after years of incredible progress but this pledge will help us turn a corner.
Speaking about the impact of the pledge on the specific diseases, Mike Podmore said:
“This investment will help the Global Fund deliver life saving results. It will help three million people access treatment for HIV and AIDS, help two million people access treatment for tuberculosis and help distribute 90 million malaria nets.”
“The Global Fund has proven itself to be a highly effective institution. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has helped save 27 million lives through its innovative partnership and its fantastic that the UK has shown it recognises the Global Fund will continue to deliver against its mission.”
The UK’s pledge of £1.4 billion is more than a 15% increase on its 2016 pledge and will go a long way to helping the Global Fund secure its total replenishment target of $14 billion.
The Global Fund has been asking donors to step up by 15% in this replenishment and the fact that the UK has heard and exceeded this call is hugely welcomed by civil society at this pivotal time in the responses. The Global Fund has stressed throughout its replenishment campaign that it seeks to raise at least $14 billion because it recognises that even with this amount there will still be a way to go to fully close the financing gap and meet the Global Goals. If others follow the example of the UK and go beyond the 15% we will be in a better position to ensure No One is Left Behind in the lead up to 2030.
The UK’s increased pledge is mirrored around the world with increased pledges already announced by Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland and Japan. We hope the UK’s pledge sends a loud and clear signal to other donors who have yet to pledge that if they also step up as the UK. and others have done, we can truly get back on track to end the three diseases by 2030.
If successful in reaching the $14 billion target the Global Fund will be able to help save 16 million lives in total over the next three years and contribute to further strengthening health systems and working to deliver gender equality.
Notes to Editors:
For more information or to arrange an interview with Mike Podmore, please contact Jenny Vaughan on 07982531346 or at jenny@stopaids.org.uk
STOPAIDS is a membership network of 70 organisations with a distinguished thirty year history of engagement on international development and HIV and AIDS. We work to unite UK voices on the global response. STOPAIDS Chairs the UK Global Fund Replenishment Working Group.
Pledge details:
The UK’s pledge is up to £1.4 billion and includes:
- A £200 million private sector match and to help leverage greater contributions from the private sector – the Global Fund has set a target of raising the private sector contribution to $1bn in total. The UK will allocate £2 for every £1 from the private sector pledged for malaria, up to £100 million.
- A £100 million performance agreement as was in place in the 2016 pledge, this ties the contribution to the good performance of the Global Fund.
STOPAIDS reaction to the pledge can be seen elsewhere online: