News Releases

Norway increases pledge to Global Fund by one-fifth

23 September 2010

New York, 23 September 2010 – Norway has committed US$ 225 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, for the years 2011-2013. This is an increase of more than one-fifth over Norway’s previous pledge of US$ 180 million made for the period 2008-2010.

The increase was announced by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) summit in New York on Wednesday.

“Norway plays a strong role in international solidarity efforts and has consistently shown itself to be a leader in the multilateral approach to development. Norway’s decision shows its determination to play a role at the forefront of the campaign to fight the three diseases,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who chairs the Global Fund’s Replenishment for 2011-2013. “Norway is also playing a prominent part in promoting global efforts to fight child mortality and improve maternal health. This pledge to the Global Fund reinforces Norway's solidarity with the women, men and children around the world who are most in need of treatment, protection and care.”

The announcement takes Norway’s total pledges to the Global Fund to US$ 575 million so far.

Norway’s decision to increase its support follows announcements by France, Canada and Japan this week to boost their financial contributions to the Global Fund.

“Through this pledge, Norway has strongly reinforced its commitment to fighting the three diseases,” said Prof. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The progress made in the last few years means that we can now come closer to meeting the health-related Millennium Development Goals.”

The Global Fund – which finances programs based on proposals submitted from 145 eligible applicant countries – has outlined funding scenarios of between US$13 billion and US$20 billion needed for the coming three years. Given the Global Fund’s large share of global financing for health – it channels two thirds of all international funding for combatting malaria and TB and nearly a quarter of funding for fighting AIDS, as well as being the largest multi-lateral channel for efforts to strengthen health systems – the success or failure to secure new funding for the coming three years will have a significant impact on the world’s ability to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

More than 40 donor countries, private foundations, and corporations will meet in New York on October 5 to replenish the Global Fund’s resources for the 2011-2013 period.