Global Fund Welcomes U.S. Leadership in Global Health
31 August 2016
GENEVA - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria warmly welcomed an announcement by the United States Government to contribute up to US$4.3 billion to the Global Fund, a demonstration of outstanding commitment to global health.
The announcement, made today in Washington D.C., comes shortly before a Global Fund Replenishment Conference in Montreal on September 16-17 gathers world leaders and decision-makers to set funding for the next three years.
"We are committing to match one dollar for every two dollars in pledges made by other donors through September 30th, 2017," said U.S. National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice in a statement. "We are calling on all partners to contribute generously in order to leverage our matching pledge to reach the Global Fund's replenishment goal of $13 billion for the three year period from 2017 to 2019."
Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said: "We are profoundly grateful for the U.S. leadership in our mission to end these epidemics and build resilient and sustainable systems for health. It is thanks to partners like the U.S. that the Global Fund partnership is creating a movement that is transforming countless lives and creating more fair societies."
The United States is the largest supporter of the Global Fund, contributing approximately one-third of overall funding, and connecting it to other U.S.-led efforts on global health. Ground-breaking work by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) includes the launch of DREAMS, an ambitious partnership to reduce HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in 10 African countries. The Global Fund also works closely with the President's Malaria Initiative and with USAID on tuberculosis to leverage and expand joint efforts.
The U.S. pledge is subject to Congressional appropriations.
National Security Advisor Rice added: "While we are turning the tide against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, too many around the world-especially in areas of conflict-still fall victim to these diseases. Now is the time for the world to accelerate its efforts by making smart investments and evidence-based interventions in the most at-risk places."
The U.S. has played a leading role in decision-making and governance at the Global Fund, and has advocated vocally for addressing special challenges facing women and girls, and reaching key populations affected by HIV, TB and malaria through the combined efforts of governments, the most affected communities, civil society, technical partners and the private sector.
President Barack Obama hosted the launch of the Global Fund's previous Replenishment in Washington in December 2013.