Newly reported figures show that programs financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have continued their rapid expansion of treatment and services. In the last six months, Global Fund-financed programs supported 90,000 new people on antiretroviral treatment for AIDS. A total of 220,000 people are now on AIDS treatment through programs supported by the Global Fund. An additional 215,000 people were provided with tuberculosis treatment under the DOTS strategy, bringing the total number of people treated for TB to 600,000. Another 1.55 million bed nets to help prevent malaria were distributed or re-impregnated, more than doubling the total number of nets to 3.1 million. The mean age of Global Fund programs is 14 months.

Combined, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund have supported national programs that have treated a total of 350,000 people for HIV/AIDS to date.

These results could not have been achieved without substantial technical assistance from UNAIDS, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Program and a number of other partners. The scale-up of AIDS treatment in particular is a collaborative effort, where donors, international organizations and non-governmental organizations all play supporting roles in national campaigns in many countries to roll out treatment – often under extremely difficult circumstances.

The Global Fund-supported HIV/AIDS programs aim to build up a long-term, sustainable effort to halt and reverse the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the countries hardest hit and to prevent its growth in countries still in the early stages. Resources from the Global Fund therefore go to a wide range of activities, from training and infrastructure strengthening in order to expand treatment and care to large-scale prevention programs and expansion of testing and counseling.

Results at a Glance
Dec 2004
May 2005

HIV: People on ARV treatment
130,000
220,000

TB: People treated under DOTS
385,000
600,000

Malaria: Insecticide-treated nets distributed
1,350,000
3,100,000

“It is extremely impressive that health programs deliver such substantial results just out of the starting gates,” said Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The dedication and commitment to results in the large majority of the programs we support is very encouraging, and we are optimistic that these programs will continue to meet or exceed their targets in the coming years.”

The Global Fund has so far committed US$ 3.5 billion to over 300 programs in 127 countries. Around 60 percent of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55 percent to fighting HIV/AIDS. Around half of the funding is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services. To date, US$ 1.3 billion has been disbursed. The programs are on track to meet combined targets over five years of 1.6 million people on AIDS treatment and 3.5 million people treated for TB, though they are slightly behind schedule in the goal of distributing 108 million bed nets.

A more extensive analysis of 51 grants that have reached the 18-month mark shows that 80 percent of these grants are performing against targets. Combined, these grants have achieved between 85 percent and 171 percent of their targets to date.

“We are seeing a revolution in providing AIDS treatment for those who need it,” continued Professor Feachem. “The scale-up of treatment is moving fast and we can now be hopeful that universal access to treatment will become a reality before the end of the decade. This would not have happened without the bold leadership by the World Health Organization, which has engaged the world and committed us all to doing our best through the 3X5 campaign.”

The Global Fund will give an update on its results by the end of the year.

The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.

Apart from a high standard of technical quality, the Global Fund attaches no conditions to any of its grants. It is not an implementing agency, instead relying on local ownership and planning to ensure that new resources are directed to programs on the frontline of this global effort to reach those most in need. Its performance-based approach to grant-making is designed to ensure that funds are used efficiently and create real change for people and communities. All programs are monitored by independent organizations contracted by the Global Fund to ensure that its funding has an impact in the fight against these three pandemics.

For further information, please contact:

Jon Liden, The Global Fund, Office: +41 22 791 1723 Mobile: +41 79 244 6006, jon.liden@theglobalfund.org

Geneva – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria warmly welcomes President Jacques Chirac’s announcement of new, increased pledges by France to the Global Fund for 2006 and 2007. President Chirac announced Tuesday that France will significantly increase its contribution for 2006 compared to its 2005 level and to reach €300 million (US$ 376 million) for 2007. France has contributed €150 million (US$ 188 million) each year in 2004 and 2005.

“France has again confirmed its position as one of the Global Fund’s main supporters, and we are very grateful for this staunch and continuous support,” said Dr. Carol Jacobs, the Chair of the Global Fund’s Board. “Through its early announcement of an increase, which is in line with our increased resource needs for 2006 and 2007, France is setting a great example for other donors to follow.”

Following their first meeting in Stockholm in March, donors will meet at a second replenishment conference in Rome next week and at a final conference in London in September, hosted by the British government and chaired by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to announce pledges for 2006 and 2007.

“The new contributions would secure France’s current 9 percent share of total contributions to the Global Fund if the needs of US$ 7.1 billion for the two-year period of 2006-2007 are fully met,” says Professor Michel Kazatchkine, the Vice-Chair of the Board. “It cements France’s position as the second largest donor overall to the Global Fund.”

In addition to its national pledge, France contributes to the Global Fund through the pledges of the European Commission.

“There are great expectations that the world’s richest nations will make commitments towards fighting poverty and disease when they meet at the G8 summit in July,” said Richard Feachem, the Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Through its pledge, France is leading the way of turning talk into action.”

In May 2001, France made one of the very first pledges to the Global Fund and has consistently led by example ever since, not only as a donor but as a political advocate on behalf of the Fund with European Heads of State and the European Commission.

At its June 2003 meeting in Evian, members of the G8 endorsed France’s invitation to host an international meeting to support the Global Fund. Over 250 donor and recipient government, business, foundation and civil society leaders from around the world participated in the meeting.

The Global Fund has so far committed US$ 3.5 billion to over 300 programs in 127 countries. Around 60 percent of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55 percent to fighting HIV/AIDS. Around half of the funding is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services. While the average age of Global Fund grants is just under a year, already substantial results have been achieved, with 130,000 people having been supported with treatment for HIV/AIDS, 385,000 people having received TB treatment and more than a million families having received insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a financing institution conceived by G8 leaders four years ago, is launching an advertising campaign in a bid to grow grass roots support for its work to tackle AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. The campaign comes as G8 members gather to discuss aid to the world’s poorest countries and aims to build trust and confidence that increased aid will be used well and can make a genuine difference in the fight against poverty.

’The United Kingdom is leading a global effort to increase assistance to developing countries to enable them to solve urgent problems of disease and poverty – especially in Africa,’ says Richard Feachem, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

‘It is a crucial initiative and the lives and livelihood of millions of people depend on its success. If governments are to commit funds of this magnitude on behalf of their country they must have confidence that the money will be distributed wisely. We wanted to contribute to building that confidence by showing people that their country’s aid money saves lives and builds healthcare where it is needed most.’

The Global Fund was set up in 2002 through a unique collaboration between southern and northern governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and groups representing people living with the three diseases. It has rigorous application and monitoring processes which ensure that programmes supported bring about a tangible return investment. Funding of grants is for an initial two year period with future funding dependent on results achieved. The first 51 grants have now reached that two year point and performance is promising, with the grants having reached between 84% and 170% of their key services targets. Through Global Fund support, more than a million people have received live-saving treatments over the past eighteen months, including an estimated 200,000 people on AIDS treatment. Tens of millions have been reached with the information and tools necessary to protect themselves from infection.

‘At the Global Fund we recognise our responsibility to demonstrate results and effective use of money,’ Feachem says. ‘Through this campaign we can communicate to the British public that the Global Fund directs funds where they are needed most and begin to show how the work is making a significant difference. We hope we will show that aid invested now and managed by organisations like the Global Fund will save billions in future aid.’

The Global Fund is working with the “Make Poverty History” campaign to increase and improve global spending on development assistance.

The UK campaign will begin on 13 June with both print advertising and a television commercial, voiced over by Dr Who actor Christopher Eccleston. All elements of the campaign, which will also include PR activity, were developed through a pro bono agreement with the Publicis Groupe. The campaign will also appear in Italy and Germany. During the launch period, The Global Fund will hold a series of meetings with representatives from the governments of the G8 and private sector leaders to encourage them to play an active role in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria.



Interview Opportunity

· Dr Richard Feachem, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Fund is available for interview. See contact details below.

Notes to Editor
About The Global Fund

· The Global Fund was created in 2002 to channel large amounts of new resources to fighting three diseases which kill six million people each year and impede development in large parts of the world. Funded by the United Kingdom and more than forty other countries, as well as private sector companies, foundations and individuals, the Global Fund already finances more than 300 programs in 130 countries worth £4.4 billion over five years. It provides money to programmes designed and implemented by countries requesting funds. It sets no conditions for its funding apart from high technical quality of the grant proposals, which are reviewed by a global panel of experts. However, it agrees targets for delivery of medicines, services, training and infrastructure and continues funding only of programs which achieve results. Decisions on continued funding are made by the time the grant has existed for two years.
The Fund is currently facing a shortfall of $700 million to meet its 2005 commitments. It estimates that a total of almost US$7bn will be needed between now and the end of 2007 to fund both renewals of successful ongoing programmes and current estimates for new funding rounds.

· The estimated US$10 is based on an estimated US$3.5bn for 2006, US$ 3.6bn for 2007 and US$2.3bn in 2005 to meet existing project commitments and a fifth round of grants.

· Global Fund grants are made for an initial two year period with phased disbursements tied to demonstrable progress against targets. Funding beyond this period is on the basis of evidence of sustainable progress and the availability of funds.

· At the end of 2004 Global Fund financing had provided:

o 130,000 people with antiretroviral treatment for AIDS

o More than one million people with voluntary HIV testing

o 385,000 patients with treatments under DOTS (Directly observed treatment) strategy for tuberculosis control

o More than 300,000 people with highly effective artemisinin combination treatments (ACTs) for malaria

o More than 1.35 million families with insecticide treated mosquito nets

o Tens of thousands of people to be reached through a wide range of prevention programmes including behaviour change campaigns, community outreach, condom distribution, community and schools programmes and media awareness raising campaigns

o In 2004 over 350,000 people were trained to fight HIV, TB and malaria. These people will work to scale up treatments to hundreds of thousands in 2005 and millions over the life of their grants.

· By the end of May, these figures are estimated to have increased by 50 percent.

· G8 Leaders will be meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland on 6- 8 July 2005. High on their agenda are new ways of ensuring that poverty is reduced by half by 2015. Central to this goal is to reduce the burden of AIDS, TB and malaria.


For more information

Marie Ennis, Publicis Consultants: 020 7462 7305 / marie.ennis@publicisconsultants.co.uk

The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria applauds the announcement by the Government of Australia that it will allocate a further AUS$ 50 million (approximately US$ 38.2 million) over three years in support of the Global Fund. This renewed and increased commitment of funding responds to the Global Fund’s challenging resource needs for 2005 and beyond.

The Global Fund calls on all donor governments to follow the examples set by Australia and Canada, to at least double their pledges for 2005 and beyond. Canada doubled its pledge to the Global Fund in February 2005.

“Australia’s increased contribution is particularly welcome in a year where we face extraordinary challenges,” Richard Feachem, the Global Fund’s Executive Director said. “To meet our current commitments, we will need US$2.3 billion in 2005, US$3.5 billion in 2006 and US$3.6 billion in 2007. We strongly encourage other countries to follow Australia’s example.”

Australia has played a leading role in regional efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. It has been a driving force behind the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development which has given leaders the opportunity to work together on measures to stop the spread of the disease. This new funding is part of the Australian Government’s AUS$ 75 million investment in the Global Fund and is further progress towards meeting the Government’s AUS$ 600 million commitment to assist the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS.

Over four rounds of grant applications, the Global Fund has committed over US$ 635 million to first and second phases of programs in the Asia Pacific Region. Over the full five-year terms of all these countries’ programs the Global Fund has committed US$ 1.6 billion. To date, the Global Fund has dispersed over US$ 240 million to countries in the region. About 20 per cent of Global Fund resources go to the Asia-Pacific region.

The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases.

The Global Fund has been established as an independent private foundation under Swiss law and is governed by an international Board. Apart from a high standard of technical quality, the Global Fund attaches no conditions to any of its grants. It is not an implementing agency. It relies on local ownership and planning to ensure that new resources are directed to programs on the frontline of this global effort, reaching those most in need. Its performance-based approach to grant-making - where grants are only disbursed if progress has been measured and verified - is designed to ensure that funds are used efficiently and create real change for people and communities.