Resources and funding

GENEVA, 18 November 2022—Major donors today announced funding increases to support UNAIDS’ evidence driven, human rights-based work to end AIDS. During a deep dive dialogue at UNAIDS global centre in Geneva the Netherlands and Germany announced additional resources for UNAIDS, in addition to resources already pledged.

Germany announced an additional € 0.5 million, and the Netherlands pledged an additional € 3 million and announced an increase in funding of 15% and a multi-year agreement with UNAIDS to secure funding for 2023-2025.

“Having a fully funded UNAIDS matters because AIDS is still an epidemic for which there is no vaccine and no cure, but it is an epidemic we can treat. It is an epidemic which affects the most vulnerable, the most marginalized, the most oppressed, that’s where UNAIDS plays a pivotal role,” said Kitty van der Heijden, Vice Minister for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands. “UNAIDS needs to be enabled to deliver what it does well, and that is helping to prevent and treat HIV—we encourage more donors to come forward.”

In July UNAIDS released a report showing that the response was in danger, with the COVID crisis and the war in Ukraine putting the AIDS response under even greater strain. In 2021, one person died every minute of an AIDS related illness and every two minutes a young woman became newly infected with HIV.

“AIDS remains a deadly pandemic and we cannot afford to pause now,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “UNAIDS has developed a strategy that will put us on a path to end AIDS, saving the lives of millions of people, ending inequalities that drive pandemics and building stronger health systems, but we need funding to make it happen. We welcome the additional pledges of support to UNAIDS which will bolster our efforts to get across the finish line.”

UNAIDS is working with its 11 Cosponsoring organizations, combining the range of technical expertise, cross-sectoral work and political reach that is needed to get the response back on track. A fully funded UNAIDS is critical. Investment now is essential to achieving the 2030 target of ending AIDS. A failure to invest will prolong the epidemic indefinitely with soaring costs in the future if we don’t act now.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

UNAIDS Executive Director calls for immediate investment of $35 million in end-of-year funding and a commitment to increase the operating budget to $210 million for 2023

GENEVA, 3 November 2022—Board members of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have met to discuss how to address a $35 million funding gap in the organization’s minimum operating budget of $187 million which is undermining efforts to end the AIDS pandemic as a global health threat by 2030. The budget required to fully meet the organization’s operational needs is set at $210 million.

In his opening remarks at a special meeting held in Geneva to discuss solutions to the funding gap, the Ambassador of Thailand’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Rongvudhi Virabutr, the current chair of UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, said that the Joint Programme continued to have an important role in data collection and analysis to develop evidence and mobilize political leadership.

“As the largest funder of AIDS responses said earlier this year, the Joint Programme is “the North Star", without which we are all blind. A fully funded and effectively functioning Joint Programme is key to our collective success. We have no time to waste.”

Calling for an immediate release of $35 million in end-of-year funding, UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima said that the organization’s financial position had deteriorated even further since the last meeting of the UNAIDS PCB in June. She said that the war in Ukraine and movements in currency exchange markets had aggravated the situation.

“The size of the budget shortfall means that it cannot be addressed by stretching the budget or finding any more efficiency gains. It is forcing stark choices—a dramatic reduction in UNAIDS country presence or further reductions to our co-sponsors are some of the scenarios,” said Ms Byanyima. “These choices are devastating, and all scenarios will set the global AIDS response back even further by denying HIV prevention, treatment and care services to millions of vulnerable people.”

UNAIDS has taken significant action to resolve the funding gap by instituting budget discipline, developing a new resource mobilization strategy and working closely with a specially appointed task team made up of members of the PCB to come up with actions and recommendations to strengthen the financial position in 2023.

UNAIDS co-sponsors, communities of people living with and affected by HIV and civil society organizations have all called for UNAIDS to be fully funded so it can achieve is vital mission.

“The world is in danger and now our collective efforts in addressing the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health threat is at stake,” said Christian Hui of the Prevention Access Campaign, Canada. “We cannot deny the contribution of the Joint Programme. Civil society, especially marginalised and key populations, have hugely benefited from the Joint Programme to advance access to lifesaving antiretrovirals and to combination prevention, to advance human rights and to empower communities to take an active part in HIV programming.”

Recognizing the complementarity of UNAIDS work, other partners in the HIV response, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have also added their voices for UNAIDS to be fully funded.

UNAIDS is present in 70 countries worldwide working in partnership with governments, civil society and communities, collecting the data that shapes the HIV response, advocating for the reversal of harmful laws and policies to create an enabling legal environment, working for an end to HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and challenging the inequalities driving the HIV pandemic among vulnerable and marginalized groups of people. In 2020-2021, UNAIDS supported more than 80% of applications to the Global Fund, guiding $5 billion in HIV funding.

“We would like to call upon all stakeholders for increased support, coordination and collaboration with UNAIDS to address the unfinished agenda of saving lives and leaving no one behind in our efforts to end AIDS,” said Alegnta Gebreyesus Guntie of the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

“UNAIDS support to countries is on developing data-informed, science-based strategies tailored to the epidemic and developing plans to implement them well,” said Ms. Byanyima. “Now, the work of the Joint Programme is needed more than ever to help countries to be ready for the next round of Global Fund applications in a difficult allocation environment.”

The UNAIDS Global AIDS Update In Danger reveals an HIV response faltering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global economic crisis, and the war in Ukraine. A total of 650 000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2021 and there were 1.5 million new HIV infections—1 million above the 2020 target of 500 000. New HIV infections increased in 38 countries.

“UNAIDS is working tirelessly to reverse the trend and to get the HIV response back on track.” said Ms. Byanyima.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

High-income countries, private sector partners and developing countries, many with high HIV burdens, have all stepped up to fund the Global Fund  

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 21 September 2022—UNAIDS congratulates donors for increasing their contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). Donors pledged US$ 14.25 billion to support efforts to end the three pandemics with more funding set to come. Donors made their pledges at the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference hosted by the President of the United States Joe Biden.  

“Leaders from around the world who have committed resources today are life savers. They have made an investment in the future of children, young people and those facing the disproportionate burden of global inequalities—especially young women and girls. They are helping to build resilient health systems and be better prepared to face emerging threats to global security,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.  

Countries rose to the challenge of increasing funding by 30%, demonstrating their confidence in the strong leadership of the Global Fund and its partners. The United States continued its position as a leader in global health by pledging US$ 6 billion, committing to invest US$1 billion for every US$ 2 billion pledged by the rest of the world. Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and South Africa all increased their funding by 30%. A notable contribution came from the Republic of Korea which increased its contribution by 300% to US$ 100 million.  

Developing countries, many tackling large HIV epidemics also stepped up in support of the Global Fund. Burkina Faso increased its contribution by 100%, Uganda and Togo increased by 50%, Kenya by 40% and Cote d’Ivoire by more than 30%. The Central African Republic, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zimbabwe all made contributions to the Global Fund despite facing huge fiscal challenges, exacerbated by current global crises.  

“I am truly humbled to see so many developing countries, that are themselves facing multiple crises, and yet still made increased pledges to the Global Fund. I commend them,” said Ms Byanyima. 

France, the European Commission and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation all made important contributions to the Global Fund while Canada made an additional pledge of CAD 100 million for pandemic preparedness and called for increased financial contributions to UNAIDS and other partners working to end AIDS, TB and malaria. 

Two major donors are still to pledge, the UK and Italy, both of whom reiterated their support to the Global Fund and indicated they will be pledging in the coming weeks. UNAIDS urges them to match the 30% increase of their peers to get closer to the Global Fund US$ 18 billion target.  

This replenishment has mobilized the biggest global commitment to the Global Fund to date, in a context where challenging currency fluctuations made significantly increased contributions from European donors less visible when counting pledges in US dollars.  

UNAIDS congratulates Donald Kaberuka, Chair of the Global Fund Board and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. This achievement is a strong endorsement of their leadership of the Global Fund by member states and private donors, and of our collective efforts to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.  

The HIV pandemic remains a global crisis claiming a life every minute but ending AIDS by 2030 is possible if countries continue to be bold in their financial contributions and work together to tackle inequalities. The actions needed to end AIDS will help protect the health and rights of everyone, strengthen economic development, and leave the world better prepared for future pandemic risks. 

UNAIDS will continue to work closely with the Global Fund in a joint effort to end AIDS. Since the creation of the Global Fund in 2002, UNAIDS has supported more than 100 countries in leveraging and implementing Global Fund resources—ensuring the funds are available and reach people most in need. 

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Nigeria has hosted a meeting of key stakeholders in the country’s HIV and wider health response to call for a successful 7^th Global Fund Replenishment meeting. The meeting took place in Abuja and included ambassadors of key donor and recipient countries and heads of United Nations agencies, including UNAIDS.

During the event, the Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He said Nigeria included one of the Global Fund’s most important recipients of Global Fund disbursements over the last 20 years and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to increase domestic funding for health.

‘I applaud countries who have already made their pledges to the Global Fund including the United States, Germany, Japan and Luxemburg,” said Mr Nkama.” I encourage other countries to rise up to this noble call by increasing their pledge by at least 30% to enable the Global Fund to meet its target.” he concluded.

David Green, the United States chargé d’affaires commended the partnership with the Nigeria that had he said enabled an incredible acceleration of HIV treatment coverage, registering the largest treatment growth in the history of the HIV programme, despite the COVID 19 pandemic. This was made possible through national surge and alignment efforts that saw the aligning of technical and financial resources behind a single national programme for intensified case-finding, allowing rapid expansion of access to antiretroviral treatment.

‘Sustaining this success depends upon contributions to the Global Fund and all of us standing in solidarity to fight for what counts. We are close to the finish line, but with Nigeria still accounting for one out of seven children born globally with HIV, the race is not yet over,’ said Mr Green.

For the Global Fund, Linda Mafu, highlighted the importance of Nigeria.

“Nigeria is one of our most important portfolios at the Global Fund and achievement of our ambitious targets is critical both for the health of the people of Nigeria and the ability of the Fund to raise additional funding and make an impact at the global level in saving lives,” she said.

Leo Zekeng, UNAIDS country director reiterated the importance of the Global Fund in the collective global response to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and called on countries to stand in solidarity for a successful 7^th Global Fund Replenishment. ‘Investing in global health is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do as it guarantees a good return of investment. Every $1 invested in fighting AIDS, TB and malaria yields $31 in health and economic returns,” he added.

The Global Fund investment case of the 7^th Replenishment conference was presented to those attending the meeting, highlighting the achievements of the investments and the remaining gaps in reducing the burden of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The 7^th Global Fund Replenishment conference seeks to raise at least US$ 18 billion to save 20 million lives, reduce deaths associated with HIV, TB and Malaria by 65% and strengthen systems for health to build a healthier, more equitable world.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said:

“The life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of continuous public service.

Queen Elizabeth II was a great friend of the United Nations and spoke very movingly of its work and its values, including in her famous address to the UN General Assembly in 1957.

Queen Elizabeth II was dedicated to ending AIDS and to ending stigma for people living with HIV. Her visit, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in 2007, to Mildmay hospital at which she met with people living with HIV and their families, helped to challenge stigma and to affirm the dignity and rights of all people living with HIV. It helped also to make strengthening the HIV response, centred on the inclusion and rights of communities affected by HIV, core to the agenda of the Commonwealth.

May her example inspire us all. I express my profound condolences to her family, and to the government and people of the United Kingdom and of the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.”

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.