Switzerland Escalates Contribution to the Global Fund
16 December 2013
GENEVA – In the first significant contribution to the Global Fund since the launch of its current Replenishment cycle earlier this month, Switzerland escalated its pledge to 60 million Swiss francs (US$68 million) over the next three years.
Compared with its pledge of 21 million Swiss francs three years ago, the new commitment represents almost a tripling of Switzerland’s contribution, one of the biggest increases by any donor. It also underscores Switzerland’s support for a global health hub in Geneva.
“Switzerland is very committed to the mandate of the Global Fund and to the fight against the three diseases,” said Ambassador Martin Dahinden, Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. “Switzerland considers it a great privilege to host the Global Fund Secretariat in Geneva, where it has marked its place among other key-stakeholders in global health.”
On top of that, the Swiss pledge unlocks about US$34 million in additional contributions from the United States, and about US$10 million from the United Kingdom. Each country devised their pledges in a way that partially matches additional contributions by other donors.
Donor pledges at the launch of the Global Fund’s Fourth Replenishment in Washington D.C. on 3 December totaled US$12.0 billion for 2014-16. The Swiss contribution, combined with the matching funds, lifts that total to over US$12.1 billion, the largest amount ever committed to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Switzerland initially pledged 21 million Swiss francs over the previous three year period, and later increased it to 26 million Swiss francs. The new commitment was approved by the Federal Council, and comes on top of technical support for risk management worth 2.4 million Swiss francs through the German BACKUP Initiative.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in the Global Fund,” said Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Switzerland is sending a clear signal that we can sustain momentum in our efforts to raise money in the transformative fight against HIV, TB and malaria.”
Switzerland has supported the Global Fund since its inception in 2002. Switzerland committed last year to raise its official development assistance to 0.5 per cent from 0.45 percent of gross domestic product by 2015. It also plays a prominent role in the Global Fund’s governance as an alternate Board member, sharing a seat with Canada.