Letter to UK Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary & Others on UK Global Fund commitment ahead of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Open Letter
Dear Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and representatives of the UK Government,
Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), as over 360 civil society organisations from across the Commonwealth, we urge the UK Government to continue its strong partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund). Twenty years ago, in an act of extraordinary global leadership and partnership with many Commonwealth members, the UK Government co-founded the Global Fund. We welcome that the UK Government’s recently published International Development Strategy recognises that the Commonwealth and multilateral organisations are essential partners in achieving the UK’s goals.
The impact of Global Fund investments in the Commonwealth and beyond are profound. The Global Fund has helped to save over 44 million lives and the combined death rate from the three diseases has reduced by more than half in the countries in which the Global Fund invests in. The Global Fund provides over $4 billion in grants each year and about half of that goes to Commonwealth countries.
At the 2018 CHOGM hosted by the UK Government, leaders committed to halving malaria by 2023. Despite the Global Fund’s rapid and determined response, COVID-19 has severely impacted hard-won gains against malaria, other infectious diseases and health systems. For the first time in 20 years, malaria cases and deaths increased last year. Securing at least $18bn for the Global Fund would get us back on track and avert more than 450 million HIV, TB and malaria infections or cases. Malaria deaths will decrease by 62% and malaria will be eliminated from an additional six countries by 2026. If we are to stay true to commitments from the 2018 CHOGM, renewed UK partnership with the Global Fund will be critical.
We applaud the UK’s leadership and commitment to gender equality and women’s rights as demonstrated in the new International Development strategy. Continued high level Global Fund investment will be critical in delivering on this. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by ill health as a result of AIDS, TB and malaria. For example, opportunistic infections resulting from HIV are the leading cause of death of women of reproductive age globally and around one third of all pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa suffer from malaria. The Global Fund is one of the most impactful investments that the UK Government makes in supporting women and girls. About one-third of Global Fund investments directly benefits Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The Global Fund’s focus on gender equality and its SRHR related investments cut across disease programmes, health systems, and rights interventions. Therefore, the Global Fund is arguably the largest multilateral provider of grants to improve the health and wellbeing of girls and women in all their diversity globally. Thanks to the Global Fund’s investments, more than 85% of pregnant women living with HIV now have access to medicine to prevent transmitting HIV to their babies, and in 2020 the Global Fund supported 11.5 million pregnant women to receive preventive therapy for malaria. Getting to at least US$18 billion could enable the Global Fund partnership to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women in most affected countries by 72%. Failing to meet the Global Fund’s target of a 30% increase to contributions from the Sixth Replenishment will jeopardise any gains made and will have devastating impacts for women and girls the world over.
The Global Fund also delivers impact in challenging operating environments. Countries facing conflict or other crises receive about one third of Global Fund investments. This work is all the more important in the face of a crisis, like Tropical Cyclone Ana in Malawi and Mozambique; and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Global Fund had invested $850m in the country, where HIV and TB rates – particularly multidrug-resistant TB – are some of the highest in Europe. Global Fund investments have helped to reduce new HIV infections to around a third of the number in 2002, and almost halved the number of people living with TB. Additional funding was mobilised in less than a week by the Global Fund to ensure that, through the course of the war, people living with HIV and TB are still able to receive the essential services and treatment to reduce the spread of infectious diseases across the region.
As the past two years have shown, we need to build stronger and more resilient health systems to fight future pandemics. The Global Fund currently invests $1.5bn a year in strengthening health and community systems and pandemic preparedness. The Global Fund plans to increase this to $2bn over the period of 2023-26. This will enable the Fund to support countries to build more effective health systems that are better able to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.
Given the Global Fund’s critical role in reducing disease incidence, building health systems and strengthening systems to respond to pandemics, these investments are key in advancing Commonwealth countries’ economic development and trading partnerships. Every dollar invested for the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment will result approximately in US$31 in health gains and economic returns.
The target for the Seventh Replenishment for at least US$18 billion will get the world back on track towards ending AIDS, TB and malaria, strengthen health and community systems, and prepare for future pandemics. To meet this goal and save a further 20 million lives, the Global Fund is asking all donors to increase their pledges in national currency by 30%. Across the Commonwealth, Governments are stepping up their commitments to the Global Fund. The United States (U.S.) has pledged US$6 billion but each $1 from the United States must be matched with $2 from other donors. Every £100 million short of this $18bn goal would leave £50 million of U.S. funding on the table.
A 30% increase to the UK’s contribution at the Sixth Replenishment equates to approximately an additional £140 million per year from current investments. This investment would help to save 2.6 million lives between 2024 and 2026 and avert more than 59 million infections or cases. We urge the UK Government to step up to Fight For What Counts, and stand with its Commonwealth allies in the fight to end epidemics.
Yours sincerely,
Global Fund Advocates Network, with support from:
|
A Shot In The Arm Podcast |
krishnagiri district living with HIV/AIDS Welfare society (KDAS+) |
| Aadhar NAP+ BHAUUDESHIYA Santha Amravati | Kushinagar welfare for people living with AIDS Society |
| Act of Kindness | Lady Mermaid Empowerment Centre |
| Action against NCDs in Eswatini | Lakshya Trust |
| Action for Animal Health | Lanka Plus |
| Adhar Bahuuddeshiya sanstha Amalner jalgaon | Lean on Me Foundation |
| Advantage Africa | Lesotho Council of NGOs |
| Advocacy Initiative for Development (AID) | Life Building Awareness Initiative (LIBAI) |
| Advocacy Network Africa (AdNetA) | Life care society for underprivileged (HP) |
| Africa Japan Forum | Love Life Society |
| African Network of Adolescents and Young Persons Development (ANAYD) | Madhira Institute |
| Afrihealth Optonet Association (CSOs Network) | Malaria Consortium |
| Afrocab Treatment Access Partnership | Malaria No More UK |
| Agra Positive People Welfare society, AGRA | Malaria Youth Army Champion |
| AHF Kenya | MAMATA |
| Ahfco | Mau Positive Network of People living with HIV/AIDS Society |
| AIDS Healthcare Foundation | MDG Achieving Organization |
| AIDS Healthcare Foundation – South Africa | Meera Foundation |
| AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Zimbabwe | Mithuru Mithuro Movement |
| AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Malawi | Moradabad Network Positive Welfare society |
| Aids Healthcare Foundation – Kenya | Most At Risk Populations’ Society in Uganda |
| Aids Orphan UK Trust | Mothers Initiatives Africa |
| Aidspan | Nalgonda Youth positive society people living HIV/AIDS (NYPS+) |
| All Nations Hope Network | Nari Matree (NM) |
| Allahabad network for people living with HIV /AIDS society prayagraaj | NATAB |
| Alliance for Sustainable Development Organization (ASDO) | National Advocacy Key Population Advocacy Consortium |
| Ambassadors for youths and adolescent reproductive health program | National Anti Tuberculosis Association Of Bangladesh(NATAB) |
| Approche Participative, Développement et Santé de Proximité (APDSP) | National Coalition of PLHIV in India (NCPI+) |
| Arena of Hope and Change Foundation | National Transgender Network Sri Lanka |
| Ashar Alo Society | Network for chennai People Living with HIV/AIDS (NCP+) |
| Asociación Costarricense para el Estudio e Intervención en Drogas (ACEID) | Network for Positive People in Trichy (NPT+) |
| Association Camerounaise pour l’épanouissement et l’autonomisation des personnes vulnérables | Network of Aurangabad By People Living with HIV |
| Association Féminine Vision Positive “AFVIPO” | Network of Hingoli by people living with HIV Hingoli |
| ASSOCIATION FEMMES ET ENFANTS | Network of Kolhapur by People living with HIV/AIDS |
| Association for prevention of Septic Abortion, Bangladesh (BAPSA) | Network of Maharashtra by People Living with HIV/AIDS (NMP+) |
| Association For Promotion Sustainable Development | Network Of Parbhani Distrct By People Living With HIV/AIDS |
| Association of TB people .In | Network of PLHIV(NOP+), |
| Azamgarh positive network of people living with HIV/AIDS Society | ONE Campaign |
| Baba Azimi Foundation (BAF) | Ontario Positive Asians (OPA+) |
| BAMANEH | Organization of African Youth-Kenya |
| Banaras Network for Positive People Living with HIV/AIDS Society | OSER HUMANITAIRE |
| Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bandhu) | Our Lady of Perpetual Help Initiative(OLPHI) |
| BAPSA | Outreach Scout Foundation |
| Barakabaho Foundation | Pace-Setter For Development of Rural Communities Initiative |
| BGMEA TB Control Project | PacificwinPacific |
| Bhilwara Network for people living with HIV/ AIDS sansthan | pali marwar network for people living with hiv sansthan pali |
| Bihar Network For People Living With HIV/AIDS Society | Pamoja TB group |
| Bikaner Network for Peoples Living With HIV Sansthan(BNP+) | Paribar Kallayn Samity (PKS) |
| Bishnu | PARIVARTAN FOUNDATION-AHMEDABAD & GUJARAT STATE NETWORK OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS. |
| BKMEA TB Control Project | Pentecostal Advocates for Socio-Economic Development (PENASED) |
| Blood Patients Protection Council Kerala | People living with HIV AIDS-PLAS Lyantonde |
| Blossomtrust | People’s Health Movement – Kenya |
| Blue Cross Nyatike Community Development Programme | People’s Health Movement Tanzania (PHM Tanzania) |
| Botswana Network on Ethics, Law & HIV/AIDS (BONELA) | Perambalur District Network For HIV Positive People (PDNP+) |
| BRAC | Persatuan Insaf Murni Malaysia |
| Building Capacities for Better Health in Africa Cameroon | Pete Activist who living with HIV. |
| Canadian AIDS Society | Phenomenal Youths Association |
| Canadian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases | PILS |
| Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health | PIME Sisters Khulna |
| Canadian Positive People Network (CPPN) | PNG National Key Population Advocacy Consortium |
| Carelink Resource Foundation (CRF) | Positive Action Against Poverty (PAAP) |
| Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) | Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+) |
| Catholics for AIDS Prevention and Support (CAPS) | Positive Society Women Network |
| CEHRDF UK | Positive Young Women Voices |
| Center for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC) | Pratapgarh network for people living with HIV/AIDS |
| Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum – CEHRDF | prayas network of positive people welfare society(PNPP) |
| Centre For Health Rights Cbo | Prevention Access Campaign |
| Centre for Healthworks,Development and Research Initiative(CHEDRES) | Princess of Africa Foundation |
| Centre for Sustainable Development and Education in Africa | PT Foundation |
| Child Way Uganda | Public Health International Consulting Center (PHICC) |
| Child/Women Welfare Foundation | Pudukkottai District HIV Positive people Welfare Society (PDPS+) |
| Children and Young People Living dor Peace(CYPLP) | Puthuvai Cluny Social Service Trust |
| CHISA | Rainbow Mirrors Uganda |
| Christ Soldiers Foundation | Rainbow TB forum |
| Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation | Rajarata Gami Pahana |
| Churu Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS Sansthan | Rajmala Welfare Society, India’s Diverse Chamber |
| CILSIDA | RDRS Bangladesh |
| CITAMplus | Regional Centre for International Development Corporation |
| Citizens Climate International | Rekat Peduli Indonesia |
| Citizens Concern Africa (CICOA) | Resource Integration Centre (RIC) |
| Civil Society Movement against TB | Restless Development |
| Coimbatore Network for Positive People (CNP+) | Results Australia |
| Communities in Development Activities (COIDA) | Results Canada |
| Commonwealth HIV & AIDS Action Group | RESULTS Korea |
| Community Social Development Foundation | RESULTS UK |
| Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD). | ROALP-TOGO |
| Council of People Living with HIV AIDS of Kerala (CPK+) | Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
| Cuddalore District HIV Positive Society (CDS +) | Rujewa Integrated Efforts to Fight Poverty(RIEFP) |
| Damien Foundation | Rural Integrated Development Initiative |
| Delhi Users’ Network | Rural Mother and Gender Care Initiative |
| Deoria network for people living with AIDS Society | SAF-TESO |
| Development for Peace Education | Salamander Trust |
| Dhaka Ahsania Mission | Sanjeevan Bahu-udeshiya Samaj Seva Sanstha, Nagpur |
| Dharmapuri District HIV Positive Welfare Society (DDPWS+) | Sarthi Kalyankari Sanstha Bhandara (NBP+) |
| Dindigul District HIV Positive Society (DDS+) | SASOD Guyana |
| Diversity And Solidarity Trust Sri Lanka | Saviya Development Foundation |
| Dr Uzo Adirieje Foundation (DUZAFOUND) | Self Help And Development Everywhere (SHADE SL). |
| Eastern Africa National Network of AIDS and Health Services Organization (EANNASO) | Siddharth Nagar welfare for people living with HIV/AIDS Society Basti |
| EATHAN – East Africa Trans Health & Advocacy Network | Sisterhood for Health Equality Zambia (SHEZ) |
| Elles Cameroun | Sk. Khurshid Anwar |
| ELOHIM FOUNDATION, NIGERIA. | Social Linkages for Youth Development and Child Link |
| Emonyo Yefwe International | Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN) |
| Empire Plus Network | SOLDIS “Solidarité pour le Développement et les Initiatives de Santé Publique” |
| Equality for All Foundation Jamaica | Sophia Forum |
| Eswatini Coalition on TB | Southern African Miners Association (SAMA) |
| Fédération nationale des organisations de santé de Côte d’Ivoire (FENOS-CI) | SRHR HUBS TORONTO |
| Foundation for Environmental Watch | Stop TB Canada |
| Friends Frangipani Inc-PNG | STOPAIDS |
| Frontline AIDS | Strategic Alliance for Research and Development |
| Geeta Mahila uthan ssmiti | Strategic Poverty Alleviation Systems–SPAS |
| Génération Maastricht | Subrang Society |
| George House Trust | Success Capital Organisation |
| GFAN Africa | Sustainable Impact for Development in AFrica (SIDAF) |
| Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Malaria | Swaziland Network of Young Positives |
| Gift Of Hope Foundation | Synergy Care Development Initiative |
| Girls Advocacy Network- Ghana | TackleAfrica |
| GLEF Foundation | Tamilnad Network of Positive People |
| Global Citizen | Tamilnadu Positive Women Network (TPWN+) |
| Global Network of Sex Work Projects | Tanzania AIDS Forum |
| Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+ Global) | Tanzania Child and Youth Rescue Organization (TCYRO) |
| Global TB Prevention Justice Collaborative (GTPJC) | Tanzania Community Health Information and Support (TaCHIS) |
| GNP+ | Tanzania Network of Women Living with HIV and AIDS |
| Good Health Community Programmes | TB Alert |
| Grassroots Development Initiatives Foundation-Kenya (GRADIF-Kenya) | TB Alert India |
| Gujarat state network of people living with HIV AIDS GSNP | TB women Global |
| Guruprasad | TBPPM Learning Network |
| Hadoti Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS Samiti Kota | Thanjavur district network of positive people TDNP+ |
| Harm Reduction Zambia Network | The Christian Spiritual Youth Ministry(CSYM HUDUMA)Tanzania |
| Hathras positive peoples welfare society | The Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD) |
| Health Care Community of Positive Peoples, Ambajogai | The Leprosy Mission International-Bangladesh (TLMI-B) |
| Health for Children Organization | The Reformed Drug and Substance Abuse Initiative (REDSAI) |
| HEED Bangladesh | Thuchila Youth Empowerment Programme and Development Network |
| HER VOICE KENYA | Tilottama Voluntary Women’s Organization |
| HIV Buddies | TINADA Youth Organization |
| HIV Legal Network / Réseau juridique VIH | Tiruvannamalai District HIV Positive Society(TDHPS+) |
| HIV Scotland | Tororo forum for people living with HIV network |
| Hope Centre Foundation (HOCEFO) | Tunaweza Organisation |
| Hope for Future Generations | Uganda Peace Foundation |
| KMSS | Ugenya Youth Community Development Project |
| Human and Natural Resose Development Foundation | Ukana West 2 Community Based Health Initiative |
| Human Rights First Rwanda Association | United for Global Mental Health |
| Humanity First Cameroon Plus | Upline Centre for Development (UCD) |
| ICW | Uttar Pradesh Welfare for People Living with HIV/AIDS Society |
| Igat Hope Inc. | Venasa Transgender Network |
| IMAGE (SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION) | Virudhunagar District HIV Ullor Nala Sangam |
| Image Social Welfare Organization | Vision makers |
| Impact Drivers | Voluntary Health Association of India |
| Impact Santé Afrique | Voluntary Health Association of Tripura |
| International community of women living with HIV in kenya chapter | WACI Health |
| India Working Group for Health Advocacy | Wakambadhala Kusindi Youth Group |
| Indian Social Service Instiute | Wasaib Sanwaro |
| Innovations for Development (I4DEV) | Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network |
| Int’l Centre for Women Empowerment & Child Dev (ICWECD) | Wider Aid & Development Agency-South Sudan |
| International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) | Women Against Rape Inc |
| International Christian Center for Education and Development | Women Coalition for Agenda 2030 |
| International Community Service Center Trust | Women Organization For Worldwide Islam (OFIF/WOWI) |
| International Planned Parenthood Federation | Women Together Edu-cultural Center |
| International Youth Council-Yemen (IYCY) | Women Wake up |
| Jabalpur Network of people Living with HIV/ AIDS Society | Women4GlobalFund |
| Jamaica AIDS Support for Life | World Mission Prayer League (LAMB hospital) |
| Jamaica Community of Positive Women (JCW+) | World University Service (WUS Germany) |
| Jaunpur Network for HIV positive People Living with AIDS Society | World Vision UK |
| Kalinga Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS (KNP+) Odisha | Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance |
| KANCO | Wote Youth Development Projects |
| KAPOTEC FOUNDATION UG | Yaah Foundation |
| KENEPOTE | YAPBEC |
| Kenguelekezé Para Saúde Direitos Humanos e Meio Ambiente | Young Out Here Sri Lanka Trust |
| Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortiun | Youth Advocating Positive Behaviour Change |
| Kenya Malaria Youth Army | Youth and Women for Change |
| Kenya network of positive teachers | Youth and Women for Opportunities Uganda-YWOU |
| Kenya Orphans Support Organization | Youth Foundation of Bangladesh |
| Key populations Uganda | Youth LEAD Asia Pacific regional network for YKPs |
| Khawaja Sira Society | Youths Initiative for Peace and Innovation (YIPI) |
| Khulna Leprosy and TB control project | Zéro Pauvre Afrique (ZPA) |
| KUBORESHA-AFRICA LIMITED | Zimbabwe Community Competence Trust |
| Khulna Mukti Seba Sangstha (KMSS) | ZOOLOOh International |
| Kokoto cbo |