News Releases

Lombard Odier and the Global Fund Join Forces to Expand Private Investment In Global Health

26 January 2018

DAVOS, Switzerland – Lombard Odier and the Global Fund are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to rethink traditional approaches to investment and philanthropy to make it easier for more people to contribute to the fight against some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. Together they will create innovative solutions that allow investors to meet both their goals of doing well financially and doing good socially.

“Investors face two significant and simultaneous challenges: they need their capital to work hard to meet their financial goals, but they also have a part to play in shaping the kind of future we all want,” said Patrick Odier, Senior Managing Partner, Lombard Odier Group. “Investors no longer need to choose between doing well and doing good. It is becoming easier to meet both goals at the same time. And this has never been more important. As public finances come under increasing pressure, there is an urgent need to open up new routes that enable private investors to engage in the battle to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Lombard Odier and the Global Fund have come together in their belief that private sector investment is a vital resource that needs to be better employed to support the sustainable development agenda – particularly ending HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics, and building strong, resilient systems for health. The demand for capital is high. A funding gap of US$20 billion was identified for 2017-2019 to implement approved strategies to fight the three diseases in countries where the Global Fund invests, so every extra dollar can help to maximize the positive impact of the Global Fund partnership. Increased funding can also support innovative, evidence-based approaches that generate greater impact for communities affected by the diseases.

“There is unmet demand from investors to allocate capital in a sustainable and responsible way that does not sacrifice returns,” said Odier. “Fiduciaries are facing increasing pressure from their clients to invest responsibly, with growing evidence that socially responsible investing also makes financial sense. Through this partnership we hope to find ways to help responsible investment become mainstream, and support the Global Fund’s ultimate ambition of ending epidemics.” 

The Global Fund partnership has saved more than 22 million lives since 2002, and invests nearly US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries.

“We are partnering with Lombard Odier as they share our focus on innovation, delivering tangible results and commitment to making a positive impact on some of the world’s most pressing health concerns. Infectious diseases are one of the most serious risks facing humankind today, but more money is needed if we are going to succeed in our efforts to eradicate them. It is imperative that we find new ways to help more people contribute, and to make those contributions work harder so every dollar makes a bigger impact. This is what we are working to achieve in this partnership,” said Ambassador John Simon, Vice Chair of the Global Fund Board.

The partnership with Lombard Odier will look for ways to help the private sector contribute to the Global Fund’s vital work, while addressing investors’ need to meet their financial goals. The partnership will look, for example, at structures that allow investors to share a proportion of the gains they receive from putting their capital to work. These efforts will also be designed to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals more broadly, particularly the first five: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality.