Faith-Based NGOs Urge Fair Contribution as Global Fund to Fight AIDS Falls Short

While the $3.7 billion pledged by donors will be just enough to sustain current programs, a total of $7 billion is actually needed to adequately address the funding for new prevention.

By Eunice Or, Gospel Herald Reporter Friday, September 09, 2005

Over 500 major non-government organizations (NGOs) worldwide renewed their appeal this week, calling on government leaders to increase their contributions to the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, according to an announcement made by Christian Aid.

The renewed appeal came on Tuesday as an immediate response to the third and final Replenishment Meeting of the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria held on Sept. 5-6 in London.

According to Reuters, 29 donor countries gathered and pledged a total of only $3.7 billion for the next two years, to the disappointment of many aid groups.

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While the $3.7 billion pledged by donors will be just enough to sustain current programs, a total of $7 billion is actually needed to adequately address the funding for new prevention, treatment or care programs in 2006 and 2007, according to the Christian Aid.

"This conference blatantly demonstrates that contributions to the Global Fund should not be based on voluntary pledges,” said Dr Mohga Kamal Smith, Health Policy Advisor for Oxfam, according to a statement released by Christian Aid. “Funding should be predictable and based on countries’ fair shares."

Among the 29 donor countries, the contribution of the United States was most questionable, Christian Aid reported. At $0.6 billion, the contribution was well below their target of one third of the total Global Fund.

In response, NGOs involved in the international appeal are urging President Bush to maintain the United States’ one-third fair share of the Global Fund needs and the European Commission to maintain its 12.8 % share.

In addition, campaigners maintained their call for immediate action from all donor governments especially Australia and Canada to scale up their contributions drastically, following the example of Britain.

The United Kingdom doubled its contribution to $184 million next year and the same amount in 2007.

"Without massive investment from donors in health, in mechanisms such as the Global Fund, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to health cannot be achieved,” Smith added. “If health MDGs are not met, all other MDGs relating to human development, poverty reduction and global security are nothing but a dream."

The international appeal for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – which was renewed on Tuesday – was first launched on Aug. 10 after a letter of international appeal was drafted.

The initial appeal concluded on Sept. 3 after the letter was signed by 507 organizations in 87 countries, most of which are leading international faith-based aid groups or churches such as the Christian Aid, Church World Service, Churches Health Association of Zambia, Lutheran World Federation, World Vision International, World YWCA and among others.

Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Cape Town, lead singer of U2 Bono, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and many other prominent individuals are also the supporters of the full funding of the Global Fund and they have already signed on the appeal letter in August.

Next week, a United Nations summit focused review the performance of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will be held in New York. Many NGOs pointed out that the insufficient contribution may have placed the progress of MDGs at risk.