News Releases

The French Council of Investors in Africa and the Global Fund Create Innovative Partnership

31 July 2017

Paris – The French Council of Investors in Africa (CIAN) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have entered into a cooperation agreement aimed at involving French companies in the fight against the three diseases in sub‑Saharan Africa.

CIAN is an organization of French companies operating in Africa, including multinational corporations, as well as small and medium-size businesses. The organization aims to accelerate private sector involvement in health issues through its network of 160 member companies and 10,000 establishments in Africa. CIAN recently created a Health Commission, an initiative that demonstrates its members’ growing interest in combating the AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics. 

While highlighting the private sector’s key role for mobilizing resources and driving innovation in global health, the agreement reaffirms the willingness of French companies to engage more actively and increase their support for ending AIDS, TB and malaria.

The partnership has been formed to maximize the impact of Global Fund-supported programs and improve access to quality care in sub‑Saharan Africa. To achieve these goals, it will promote joint initiatives involving skills transfer, prevention and health care delivery programs, and advocacy.

“We are proud to join the Global Fund mission. There is a crucial need for partnerships between international organizations and the private sector, and French companies are ready to use their financial and technical resources to support the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. Their social commitment goes hand-in-hand with their economic effectiveness,” said Etienne Giros, Vice President of CIAN.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome the new partnership with the CIAN and the private sector in France. The private sector plays an essential role in Global Fund-supported programs to ensure innovation in program implementation and in the design of new investment opportunities to benefit millions of people in countries most highly affected by the main infectious diseases,” said Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations at the Global Fund.