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March 2009: Write a letter to the editor: The United States must lead in supporting the Global Fund

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

As the global economic crisis continues unabated, countries like the United States have taken extraordinary steps to insulate their citizens from its impact. While wealthy countries have marshaled unprecedented resources to weather this storm, economic disaster is unfolding in the developing world with little outside attention or assistance. The crisis not only jeopardizes poor people’s livelihoods directly as the global economy contracts, but it threatens donor contributions to the most effective source of funding to fight diseases of poverty: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Unlike failing banks and Wall Street investment houses, the Global Fund faces an economic crisis born of its success, not its failure. After an historic round of funding approved last year, the Global Fund is now faced with a shortfall in needed donations. Poor countries have done their part by developing bold, accountable plans to aggressively address AIDS, TB, and malaria. But countries like the U.S. have failed to keep their promises to finance these plans. Just as the Global Fund is poised to accelerate its progress fighting these diseases, donors are slamming on the brakes.

Our newspapers are filled with daily accounts of economic decline, but with little attention given to those who will be hit hardest. Help call attention to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria by writing a letter to the editor.

Sample Letter to the Editor

Instructions: Follow the guidelines for letters to the editor provided by your local papers. Always include your address and phone number with your submission. Make your letter short (150–250 words) and to-the-point using the EPIC format (see sample letter below). To write a letter through the RESULTS website, go to http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/media. If your letter gets published, amplify its impact by sending a copy of your published letter to your members of Congress.

 

Engage	While the United States has eagerly bailed out failing banks and corporations, its commitment to institutions that are actually working — like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is less clear. Tip: Connect your letter to a timely news issue, a local story, or a personal experience.
Problem	The Global Fund has a projected $8 billion need for the coming year, but only has $3 billion in pledges from donor countries. Unless the gap is filled, new life-saving proposals will be put on hold and plans to expand existing programs will have to wait.
Inform about the solution	Countries hardest hit by these pandemics are crafting bold plans to fight these diseases with the expectation that promised funding will be available. The Global Fund has helped save 3.5 million lives in its short history and can save many more if donors keep their promises. Tip: use the statistics below to provide specific examples of the Global Fund’s work.
Call to action!	President Obama and Congress should fully fund U.S. share of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria — $2.7 billion in 2010 — and ensure those supported by these successful programs do not become innocent victims of the economic crisis.

 

How the Global Fund Gets Results

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was founded in 2001 as an international partnership to fight three of the deadliest diseases of poverty. In its brief history the Global Fund has become a critical source of funding, having approved funding of $14.9 billion for projects in 140 countries. The Global Fund provides a quarter of all international funding for AIDS, two-thirds for TB, and three-quarters for malaria.

Every Global Fund grant application is judged for its impact, community involvement, and transparency. An independent technical review panel must approve each grant before funding, and programs are required to reach specific targets throughout the life of the project. Funded projects must be successful to receive continued funding and must account strictly for how money is spent. The public can track the progress of all grants via the Global Fund website, which also publishes independent evaluations of the organization’s own performance.

Global Fund efforts are estimated to have saved 3.5 million lives, and have supported:

• 2 million people to receive HIV/AIDS antiretroviral treatment;
• 62 million HIV counseling and testing sessions;
• 3.2 million orphans to be provided with medical services, education, and community care;
• The distribution of 70 million bed nets to protect families from transmission of malaria, thus becoming the largest financier of insecticide-treated bed nets in the world;
• The delivery of 74 million malaria drug treatments;
• The detection and treatment of 4.6 million additional cases of infectious tuberculosis.

The Funding Gap

Countries had been encouraged to develop ambitious plans and request the funding truly needed to effectively fight theses diseases. They responded, and in November 2008, the Global Fund completed its biggest funding round ever — nearly $3 billion in new quality proposals for AIDS, TB, and malaria programs. When implemented, these November proposals will result in remarkable achievements. For example:

• 4.5 million people tested for HIV in Nigeria;
• 30 million bed nets distributed to reach every household in the Democratic Rep. of Congo;
• Cutting edge drug-resistant TB diagnosis and treatment for every person in need in Lesotho.

In 2010, the Fund projects an $8 billion need for new and continuing programs. However, donations to the Global Fund have not kept pace with a 2007 agreement by the Global Fund Board (including the U.S.) to increase funding to match the growth in quality grant proposals. The U.S. share of the $8 billion gap is $2.7 billion based on the size of our economy relative to the rest of the world.

How much is $2.7 billion?

• About one-seventh of the amount paid in bonuses last year by Wall Street firms.
• About half of the political contributions and lobbying fees paid by the financial sector in the last decade.
• Less than half of one percent of what G8 countries approved to bail out failing banks in the last three months.

Unlike financial institutions that came asking for help because of bad decisions, the Global Fund has succeeded in its mission to extend critical health services to the poor. The U.S. should invest in what works and not punish the Global Fund for its success.

The United States Must Lead

The United States isn’t expected to close the funding gap by itself, but it must lead the way by providing its fair share contribution of $2.7 billion in the 2010 foreign aid spending bill. Historically, when the U.S. provides more funding other countries follow suit, so U.S. leadership can leverage big contributions from other donors. While campaigning for president, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice-President Joe Biden, and President Barack Obama all signed pledges to provide the U.S. fair share contribution to the Global Fund. Even in the midst of an economic crisis, we must not abandon our commitments to rest of the world.