Bond reaction to UK government’s pledge to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Today, Tuesday 11 November, the UK government has announced its pledge of £850 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, ahead of the 8th replenishment summit later this month. The Global Fund is a worldwide partnership that brings together world leaders, communities, civil society, health workers and the private sector to fight infectious diseases and strengthen health and community systems in more than 100 of the hardest hit countries.

The UK is co-hosting the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment summit meeting with the government of South Africa on 21 November. Today’s pledge represents a 15% reduction from the UK’s previous pledge of £1 billion, made in 2022, and marks the first time in Global Fund history that a host country has reduced its pledge.

In reaction, Gideon Rabinowitz, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Bond, the UK network of NGOs, said: 

We welcome the pledge of £850 million towards continuing to fight infectious diseases worldwide, which will prevent millions of deadly infections and help protect the UK’s health security. However, today’s announcement by the UK government represents a 15% reduction from its previous replenishment pledge – and a step backwards in our commitment to promoting a safer, more equitable and healthier world for everyone.

The UK has long been a proud and reliable global partner in the fight against AIDS, TB, malaria and other deadly diseases, and Britons have been made safer by the Global Fund which strengthens pandemic preparedness and improves global health security for us all. Widespread calls to safeguard the Global Fund from NHS staff, MPs, and civil society in the run-up to this announcement have proven public support for a united approach to tackling disease worldwide.

Today’s reduced commitment, combined with the UK aid cuts which have forced officials into impossible choices, will slow progress in eradicating these diseases, and risk devastating consequences for marginalised communities. Our ability to respond to future health threats, including pandemics, will also be weakened.

As co-host of this year’s replenishment, the UK government must work to prevent their own reduced pledge from setting a precedent for other donor countries. It must also identify opportunities to supplement its pledge, such as through funds recovered to the UK aid budget from reducing spend on expensive hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK. Ensuring the successful replenishment of the Global Fund means delivering progress towards a safer, healthier world for us all.

ENDS. 

Notes for editors

1. The UK government announcement of its pledge to the Global Fund is available to view here.
2. Read the reactions from Bond members – Action for Global Health, Results UK, STOPAIDS, UNICEF UK, Frontline AIDS, Malaria Consortium and Restless Development.
3. The Global Fund is a worldwide partnership to defeat AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria and ensure a healthier, safer and more equitable future for all. 
4. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
5. For further information or interviews, please get in touch with Emily Loynes at [email protected] or 07909947850