Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

It couldn't be more clear. [The Global Fund] is the most successful institution that we have in the world for addressing the most horrific epidemics the world faces. We have explicit policy pledges. We have validated national plans. We have a clear commitment that all valid plans will be fully funded. We've already broken that pledge to the world's poorest people. We're delaying programs. We have a massive gap, and it is the responsibility of world leaders to face up to this.

— Economist Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University

AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria are preventable diseases that can be treated effectively. Yet, they were the cause of more than six million deaths in 2004. Relative to high-income countries, the burden of these diseases is thirty times greater in developing countries, resulting in tremendous economic loss, social disintegration, and political instability.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created in 2002 to respond to this formidable challenge. It is an innovative multi-donor funding mechanism providing grants to 140 low- and middle-income countries. It provides two-thirds of all donor funding for TB and malaria. The Global Fund disburses grants with a minimum of red tape, but with safeguards to monitor program implementation, financial management, and health outcomes.

RESULTS and Global Fund Advocacy

RESULTS has been the leading advocate urging greater U.S. support for the Global Fund since the Fund's inception in 2003. In 2008, the historic Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 was signed into law. Thanks in part to our efforts, the bill authorizes $48 billion over five years for life-saving programs, including authorization for U.S. contributions to the Global Fund.

The Fund is dependent on donor funding. The U.S. must provide our full one-third fair share (based on the size of our economy) to the Global Fund to continue to expand the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. It is critical that RESULTS and our friends continue to push for Congress to increase funding for the Global Fund in our annual appropriations (foreign aid spending) bill.

In 2009, Joanne Carter, executive director of RESULTS, was selected for the position of Board Member for the Developed Country NGO Delegation to the Global Fund Board. While an exciting moment in time for those that are a part of RESULTS, Carter's appointment to the Board is an opportunity for all NGOs to have a tremendous impact in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.