17 September 2016: At the fifth replenishment conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the Fund as a model of a successful partnership, and elaborated on elements that could serve as a model of cooperation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Fund invests approximately US$4 billion annually to support programmes run by local experts in communities to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. Since its establishment in 2002, the Fund has helped save about 20 million people. Since 2012, the Fund has averted 146 million new infections.

Addressing the Replenishment Conference in Montreal, Canada, on 17 September 2016, Ban praised the Fund’s role in driving increased domestic health investment in countries, underscoring how groups of actors came together in a broad partnership to help those most in need. He highlighted how the Fund will support progress towards many of the SDGs, including and beyond SDG 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). He explained, “Working to end HIV, TB and malaria is intrinsic to the SDGs, and each of the SDGs has a bearing on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all…That is why the Global Fund has sharpened its focus on human rights, key populations and gender equality.”

Ban also described how improving living conditions in urban slums, as called for under SDG 11 (Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable), will help to fight tuberculosis and address water management and sanitation, which will eliminate malaria and build strong and resilient health systems, all of which are called for in the SDGs. He further described the Fund’s emphasis on equal education and equal opportunity for adolescent girls to prevent HIV, and its contribution to achieving universal health coverage. Ban called for contributions to the Fund, stressing it has already delivered results, and urged broad partnership and cooperation “to make this world healthier and better for all.”

Donors pledged over US$12.9 billion to the Fund’s Fifth Replenishment, with increased contributions from donors and a doubling of contributions from the private sector. Many African countries pledged contributions for the first time. [UN Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [Global Fund Website] [Global Fund Press Release on Financing] [Global Fund Press Release on African Financing] [Global Fund Press Release on Private Sector Financing]