South Africa and the United Kingdom Unite to Co-Host the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund, Reinforcing Their Commitment to Global Health
Under its G20 Presidency, South Africa highlights the urgent need for sustained investment in health systems, vital for the continent and the world’s stability, while the UK remains committed to building modern partnerships able to deliver sustainable solutions for current and future health threats.
18 February 2025
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GENEVA / JOHANNESBURG / LONDON – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) welcomes the announcement that the Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK) will co-host the partnership’s Replenishment fundraising efforts this year. This collaboration highlights their unwavering dedication to ending AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, as well as strengthening global health security.
This announcement comes in advance of the G20 First Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg and reinforces the G20’s themes of solidarity, equality and sustainable development.
The Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Investment Case released on this occasion aims at saving 23 million more lives between 2027 and 2029 and accelerating the partnership’s drive to end the three deadliest infectious diseases.
South Africa and the Global Fund have had a strong partnership since 2002, with South Africa being not only a major recipient of Global Fund support, but also an active participant in Global Fund governance and a donor to the Fund.
“The fight for global health is one we must undertake together,” said Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa. “Our work with the Global Fund partnership has been instrumental in saving lives and fortifying health systems across our nation and continent. Co-hosting the Global Fund’s Replenishment resonates well with South Africa’s leadership of the G20 this year, because strong investment in health is one of the best ways to foster solidarity, equality and sustainable development.”
The UK was a founding member of the Global Fund when it was established in 2002 and has been one of its largest donors over the past two decades.
The Global Fund has a proven track record of converting donor contributions into tangible impact, integrating local knowledge with global resources and mobilizing the skills of governments, civil society and the private sector.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, expressed his gratitude for the partnership between South Africa and the UK for the Eighth Replenishment. “This collaboration between South Africa and the UK highlights the crucial role that both nations play in promoting health equity and reinforcing our capacity to tackle the urgent health needs of today,” said Sands. “Sustained investment is essential to combat HIV, TB and malaria, and global solidarity remains key to addressing urgent health challenges. Leaders like President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirm the urgency of prioritizing health on the global agenda, driving collective action for a healthier, more equitable future.”
“Over the past decades, in collaboration with the Global Fund partnership, we have made remarkable strides in decreasing HIV infections by 75% and tuberculosis incidence by over 66%,” said South Africa's Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi. “We are at a critical juncture, where our sustained commitment to health is imperative, especially for our most vulnerable populations. The Eighth Replenishment is a golden opportunity for us to unify our efforts and continue building on this momentum.”
“The UK is honored to partner with South Africa as co-hosts for the Replenishment of the Global Fund,” said the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “The Global Fund has helped save 65 million lives in the last two decades. But the threat posed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria remains, with stigma, antimicrobial resistance, and the climate crisis hampering our progress to eliminate these diseases. The UK remains firmly committed to tackling global health challenges, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will help us deliver on our Plan for Change in the UK by supporting global stability and growth.”
He added, “Encouraging investment in global health means investing in the security and well-being of communities in the UK and around the world.”
The Eighth Replenishment is a call to action for the international community to come together, enhancing the progress achieved over the last two decades and ensuring a healthier, more secure world for all. The Global Fund urges all stakeholders to join this vital mission and invest in a sustainable future for global health.