Donors Poised to Break G8 Promises to Global Fund
This press statement was issued jointly by the Global AIDS Alliance and more than a dozen civil-society partners. See the bottom of the page for a full listing.
September 25, 2007, Berlin, Germany—On the eve of a replenishment meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, civil society warned other G8 donors not to follow the poor example set by the United Kingdom, which today announced its contribution to the Global Fund—an 8-year pledge of US $2 billion. Divided evenly by year, this pledge would only amount to 20% more than the UK's current support for the Global Fund.
In order to keep their promises, the UK should have tripled its pledge to the Global Fund. Instead the British government has apparently increased its current annual contribution level by only a quarter. Campaigners were calling for US $1.423 billion from the UK over the next three years. The pledge announced today will amount to only half of what is needed from the UK by 2010.
"This is devastating news for the 16,000 people who die of AIDS, TB, and malaria every single day. The Global Fund has saved many lives in my country and across the world. How can rich countries turn their back on the millions more who urgently need lifesaving treatment?" asked Anandi Yuvaraj, former Global Fund Board member and AIDS activist in India.
"We urgently needed donors to triple their contributions, but the UK has started the bidding by offering a pittance," stated Asia Russell, Global Fund Board member representing developed country NGOs.
Key donors to the Global Fund, including the G8 countries, were set to make their pledges on Thursday at the Berlin replenishment conference, hosted by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"Campaigners will be increasing their efforts to ensure other donors step up to the mark and make pledges commensurate with the real need," said Russell.
Just four months ago, Germany also hosted the G8 Summit, where rich country leaders pledged to replenish the Fund and provide "long-term predictable funding based on ambitious, but realistic demand-driven targets."
The Berlin replenishment meeting is the first real test of the commitments to respond to AIDS, TB, and malaria made by the G8 leaders. Civil-society groups around the world are calling on donors to pledge $18 billion for 2008-2010 to the Global Fund in order to help meet internationally agreed-upon targets such as the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and the goal of achieving universal access to HIV/AIDS services by 2010.
As the Global Fund accounts for two-thirds of the money spent on tuberculosis and malaria and over one-fifth of global spending on HIV/AIDS, scaling up the size of the Fund is critical to meeting these goals.
Meeting the $18 billion target requires top donors to the Global Fund to triple or quadruple their contributions. However, there is little evidence that G8 countries are prepared to back their commitments with significant and adequate long-term pledges.
While the US and Japan may not announce specific pledges at the replenishment conference, other donors, including Germany, France, Canada, and Italy, are all expected to make announcements.
Civil society in Berlin are planning a public action at the site of the replenishment meeting on the day G8 donors are announcing their pledges, Thursday, September 27, at 10:15 a.m. outside the Hotel Intercontinental, on Budapesterstrasse.
This press release was issued on behalf of following organisations:
ActionAid International
Action Against AIDS, Germany
AIDES, France
GESTOS, Brazil
Global AIDS Alliance
Global Health Advocates
Health GAP
InterAct UK
Japan AIDS and Society Association
Jubilee Australia
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Netherlands
Norwegian Church Aid
Project Ring, Japan
Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association
RESULTS Canada
RESULTS, Australia
Stop AIDS Campaign, UK
World AIDS Campaign