U.S. Government Contribution to the Global Fund Exceeds $2.5 Billion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 26, 2007

The American People Lead the World in their Commitment to the Global HIV/AIDS Response

Washington, DC – The United States Government today transmitted a contribution of over half a billion dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as part of its ongoing commitment to stem the tide of these three diseases. This amount brings the cumulative total of the American people’s investment in the Global Fund to over $2.5 billion since the Fund's inception in 2001.

The U.S. Government remains the largest contributor to the Global Fund. The American people, through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), commit more resources to the global HIV/AIDS response than the rest of the world’s donor nations combined.

The latest U.S. Government contribution of over $531 million, provided through PEPFAR, forms part of the United States' previously determined Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 contribution to the Global Fund. As the largest sum ever provided to the Global Fund at one time, this contribution represents the U.S. Government’s ongoing commitment to stem the tide of these three diseases.

“U.S. Government contributions to the Fund are an important component of PEPFAR’s mission to continue to expand comprehensive prevention programs, life-saving treatment and care for those in need, including orphans and vulnerable children,” affirmed Ambassador Mark Dybul, the Coordinator of PEPFAR. “The contributions are an essential aspect of the partnerships with the people of the world to combat the three, linked pandemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We must continue to combat these pandemics with innovative public-private partnerships that support local leadership in building a sustainable response.”

Today’s contribution reflects the U.S. Government's commitment to the Global Fund’s founding principles, as a performance-based financing mechanism with a demand-driven approach to promote country ownership of programs that provide prevention, care and treatment to people affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

On May 30, 2007, President Bush announced his intention to work with Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR for an additional five years and $30 billion. The proposal would double the initial $15 billion commitment made in 2003. As with the initial phase of PEPFAR, the proposed new funding is tied to clear, quantitative goals: support for treatment for 2.5 million people, prevention of 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children. Assuming Congress meets the President's request for FY 2008, and with the new $30 billion proposal, the American people will have committed more than $48 billion across 10 years to fight HIV/AIDS.

Challenged by President Bush’s commitment, leaders at the June G-8 Summit committed to a total investment of $60 billion dollars, tied to goals that build on the U.S. commitment: support for treatment of 5 million people, prevention of 24 million new infections, and care for 24 million people, including 10 million orphans and vulnerable children.

"We encourage other nations to follow the lead of the American people and commit additional resources to combat the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, including through contributions to the Global Fund and other important multilateral institutions,” said Dr. William Steiger, Director of the Office of Global Health Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Board Member to the Global Fund.

PEPFAR also supports the Global Fund in other important ways, including the following:

• Providing direct technical assistance to Global Fund grantees in PEPFAR Focus Countries through PEPFAR’s Country Operation Plans;
• Making available support to improve the implementation of under-performing Global Fund grants through central PEPFAR funding;
• Mandating that PEPFAR country teams collaborate and coordinate their activities with Global Fund partnerships in recipient countries; and
• Participating on the Global Fund's Board, including through the leadership of Ambassador Dybul as Chair of the Board's Finance and Audit Committee, and Dr. Steiger as the United States representative on the Board.

The U.S Government also continues to support the Fund's efforts to strengthen its accountability and transparency mechanisms.

A second contribution to the Global Fund is expected later in the FY 2007 calendar year, once the Fund Secretariat provides information concerning several statutory certification requirements and deduction provisions.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest global health initiative directed at a single disease that any nation has ever undertaken. For more information about PEPFAR, please visit http://www.pepfar.gov.