The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is asking donors for $18 billion to help save 20 million lives and prepare countries’ health systems for the next pandemic.
The amount covers just 14% of the estimated total resources needed to tackle HIV, TB, and malaria in 2024 to 2026, which is about $130.2 billion. It is an increase of about $4 billion from the multilateral organization’s $14 billion request in 2019.
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The Global Fund’s latest strategy: What’s new?
The new Global Fund strategy mentions pandemic preparedness and response as an “evolving objective.” The organization is also looking at what can be done to address the impact of climate change, both internally and through its grants.
According to the Global Fund’s investment case, published Wednesday, this amount is the “bare minimum” needed to recoup losses due to COVID-19, and to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of ending HIV, TB, and malaria by 2030.
In its report last year, the Global Fund found HIV testing declined by 22%, missing 30 million people. Voluntary medical male circumcision, which helps in reducing HIV transmission via heterosexual sex, fell by 27%. One million fewer people were tested and treated for TB, and the number of suspected cases tested for malaria fell by 4.3%.
At that time, the Global Fund had not yet come out with a specific amount for its replenishment. But Executive Director Peter Sands of the fund told Devex that “it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that the needs for HIV, TB, and malaria are going to be greater than they were.”
The Global Fund plans to invest one-third or $6 billion of the requested amount in supporting health care workers; strengthening laboratory and diagnostic tools, supply chains and information and financial systems; tackling antimicrobial resistance; reinforcing community systems; and in helping countries shift to “patient-centered, differentiated models of care.”
Several global health experts see the potential of the fund in playing a bigger role in future pandemics. The fund has played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing billions of grants for nonvaccine-related needs, including personal protective equipment and COVID-19 tests and treatments. Its board has agreed that the fund should continue playing a role in pandemic preparedness and response.
It hopes to raise the needed amount at its seventh replenishment meeting, which is set to take place in the fall. The United States — its biggest donor — will be hosting the event.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
