Washington, DC - International humanitarian organization Oxfam America expressed disappointment with the Administration’s announcement this week of a four billion dollar pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria over the next three years.
In reaction, Gregory Adams, director of aid effectiveness at Oxfam America, made the following statement:
“This level of commitment, while an increase from last year’s decreased pledge, fails to adequately respond to the nearly 300 million people suffering from the three diseases, and falls far short of the six billion dollars needed. This isn’t just about the replenishment of a fund, it’s about helping people and their countries become their own protagonists in the fight against global disease.”
“The Global Fund is one of the better performing multilateral tools for fighting poverty. As a pooled funding mechanism, the Global Fund has a proven track record of transparency and ownership, and has delivered remarkable results in the fight against these three diseases. Secretary Clinton herself has previously described the Global Fund as an institution with the 'reach and resources to do what countries working alone cannot.' This inadequate pledge by the State Department, along with a vague demand for 'reform', makes the Secretary's arguments about multilateralism ring hollow."
“By pledging two billion dollars less than needed, the US has made it difficult for the Global Fund to meet its current commitments to people living with HIV and AIDS, TB, and malaria around the world, much less provide access to critical prevention for others at risk. Starving the reform process at the Global Fund is not the most effective way to advance it. The US has a vital leadership role in persuading other countries to deliver on their aid promises. The best way for the US to demonstrate such leadership is to put our money where our mouth is. We will work with the Administration and Congress to increase the US investment to the Global Fund beyond this initial pledge.”
