Donors failing Global Fund, says report

Most G8 countries are reneging on financial commitments to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, according to a report card released at the International AIDS conference in Toronto, Canada. The findings, prepared by an alliance of health advocacy groups, graded 22 of the wealthiest countries on pledges made to the Global Fund for 2006 and 2007. Only France, Ireland and Sweden received 'A' grades for both years, while Germany, Japan, Australia and Switzerland were among nine countries that received two years of failing grades. "Despite progress, the world's richest countries are still failing millions of people who live with AIDS, TB and malaria," said Joanne Carter, legislative director of the RESULTS Educational Fund, one of the organisations behind the report card. The grades were determined by calculating a country's "Fair Share" of contributions based on its Gross National Income (GNI) as a percentage of World GNI. An 'F' grade was assigned to countries that pledged less than 50 percent of their "Fair Share". The release of the report card coincided with the Global Fund's announcement that its sixth round of grants had elicited proposals seeking US$5 billion over five years. In past rounds, about 40 percent of proposals have been recommended for approval by the Fund's Technical Review Panel. Despite a recent US$200 million pledge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the likelihood of a number of additional pledges in coming weeks, Global Fund spokesperson, Jon Liden, expects a funding shortfall for Round Six. "There's a moral imperative that should make it difficult for governments not to step up and make pledges," he said. "But getting funding for health development aid is always a struggle. UNAIDS throws out the numbers behind the epidemic, but no one is held responsible for not providing the funding." According to a progress report released in June, more than half a million people have begun antiretroviral treatment through Global Fund-supported programmes.