Resources and funding

Donors urged not to shift resources away from AIDS as response shows return on investments

Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, 10 November 2011 – New reports released today shows that AIDS-related funding from United States and European philanthropic donors totaled US$ 612 million in 2010, a combined 7% decrease (US$ 44 million) from 2009. The reports, produced by the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) and Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), also show that the number of donors giving more than US$ 300,000 to HIV has reduced by 30% over the last three years. 

“The global response to AIDS, now in its 30^th year, has demonstrated the power of political commitment and financing,” said John Barnes, Executive Director, FCAA. “Profound successes have been achieved – such as more than 6 million people on lifesaving treatment. Commitment and resources must rise now to meet existing needs and take advantage of new opportunities so that we do not experience another 30 years of AIDS.”

Funding from donor governments also decreased in 2010 after sharp increases in funding at the beginning of the decade. There is estimated to be, at a minimum, a US$ 6 billion annual gap between investment needs and available resources.

UNAIDS has developed an investment framework which shows that 12.2 million new HIV infections and 7.4 million HIV-related deaths could be averted between 2011 and 2020 if funding is scaled up to US$ 24 billion by 2015.

“Investing strategically today will not only save lives, it will also ultimately result in significant cost savings in the future,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS. “We have an opportunity to make a real impact but it will require a concerted effort from all sectors including philanthropic donors who play an important role in reaching people most affected by the epidemic.”

The total disbursed by US-based philanthropies reduced from US$ 492 million in 2009 to US$ 459 million in 2010. The key driver of the decrease was a decline in funding from the largest private AIDS funder, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which represents 47% of all HIV philanthropic funding from US funders. This decrease, however, is largely due to the multi-year nature of their commitments and the Foundation forecasts an increase in 2011 disbursements.

Disbursements from all US funders other than the Gates Foundation decreased by 2% from 2009 to 2010 primarily due to a trend of funders exiting the field of HIV-specific funding and moving into areas such as sexual and reproductive health and health systems strengthening.

Funding from European-based philanthropies also decreased by 6%, from US$ 163 million in 2009 to US$ 153 million in 2010.

UNAIDS, FCAA and EFG emphasize that philanthropy has a catalytic role to play in the response to HIV through its commitment to address key focus areas, such as advocacy, that are not often covered by other sources of funding.

“Private philanthropic donors need to reprioritize and support strategically smarter, more efficient interventions that target the needs of communities most impacted by the epidemic,” said Kate Harrison, Portfolio Manager, Comic Relief UK, and EFG Steering Committee member.

Projections for 2011 suggest that total AIDS-related philanthropy funding levels may increase in both the US and Europe. Over a quarter of US funders forecast anticipated increases in 2011, including the top funder, the Gates Foundation. Over a third of European funders, including five of the top 10 funders, forecasted funding to HIV increasing in 2011.

“Even if the 2010 decrease in philanthropic funding for HIV is just a blip, every dollar lost enables new HIV infections, costs lives, can contribute to human rights violations, and stalls progress in the global AIDS response,” said Mr Barnes. “To seize the opportunities now clearly in front of us to end this epidemic, it is critical that we continue to mobilize increased and strategic funding for AIDS.”

The FCAA and EFG annual resource tracking reports intend to inform stakeholders about the overall distribution and trends of US and European AIDS philanthropic funding, facilitate greater coordination and transparency among funders, and encourage expanded philanthropic support for HIV work.

To download the complete reports:

• U.S. Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2010 at www.fcaaids.org
• European Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2010 at www.hivaidsfunders.org  

About EFG

The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) is a knowledge-based network dedicated to strengthening European philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS. The group aims to mobilise philanthropic leadership and resources to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences and to promote an enabling environment for strategic and independent giving in this field as well as fields closely connected to HIV/AIDS such human rights, global health, and global development. 

About FCAA 

Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) was founded in 1987 with the goal of mobilizing the philanthropic leadership, ideas and resources of U.S.-based funders to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic –domestically and internationally– and to address its social and economic consequences. FCAA is the only U.S.-based organization comprised of and for private philanthropic institutions concerned about, engaged in, or potentially active in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

About UNAIDS

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Learn more at unaids.org.

GENEVA/MENLO PARK, Calif., 16 August 2011—Funding disbursements from donor governments for the AIDS response in low- and middle-income countries fell in 2010, dropping 10% from the previous year’s level, according to an annual funding analysis conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The study found that donor governments disbursed US$ 6.9 billion in 2010 for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support—US$ 740 million less than in 2009. The decrease was due to a combination of three main factors: actual reductions in development assistance, currency exchange fluctuations, and a slowdown in the pace of U.S. disbursements, which was not a budget cut.

Of the 15 governments surveyed, seven—Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United States—reported a year over year decrease in their disbursements as measured in their own currencies. The figures presented in the report are in US dollars, consistent with international standards and other reporting mechanisms.

Due to currency fluctuations, when measured in US dollars, Australia showed a slight increase in its AIDS funding contribution even though it contributed less in its own currency. Conversely, there was a slight decrease in Denmark’s contribution despite the country’s increased funding level in its own currency.

“AIDS is a smart investment even in this difficult economic environment. We have to look beyond the near-term costs and recognize the long-term benefits,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Donors need to make and follow through on commitments today to reduce costs in the future.”

The overall drop in disbursements was primarily attributed to a reduction in disbursements by the United States, the largest donor nation, which accounted for 54% of total donor disbursements in 2010. While the United States Congress appropriated similar levels of funding for the AIDS response in 2010 as in 2009 (approximately US$ 5.5 billion in each year), disbursements from the United States declined from US$ 4.4 billion in 2009 to US$ 3.7 billion in 2010. This slowdown stems from new requirements established by Congress for the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Some funds appropriated in 2010 will be disbursed in later years.

“With U.S. funding delayed but not eliminated to this point, this year’s drop in spending may be a temporary blip, though its impact on services may be real,” said Drew Altman, Kaiser Family Foundation President and CEO.

To reach universal access goals towards HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, UNAIDS estimates that an investment of at least US$ 22 billion will be needed by 2015. Raising this level of funding could avert more than 12 million new HIV infections and more than seven million deaths, according to UNAIDS.

At the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS in June 2011, UN Member States committed to bold new targets for the AIDS response which include increasing investments for AIDS to between US$ 22-24 billion by 2015.

According to the latest estimates from UNAIDS, 34 million [30.9 million–36.9 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2010 and nearly 30 million [25 million–33 million] have died from AIDS-related causes since AIDS was first reported 30 years ago.

Flexible, agile and generous funding structures needed to ensure development and delivery of lifesaving new options for HIV prevention

Rome (19 July 2011) – In the last year, promising trial results and critical scientific breakthroughs have changed the HIV prevention landscape, providing new opportunities for both a broader response to the epidemic with new prevention options and broader clinical and laboratory agendas with new research targets. At the same time, investment in biomedical HIV prevention research remained stable despite the effects of the recent global economic downturn, according to a new report released today in Rome at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. 

Capitalizing on Scientific Progress: Investment in HIV Prevention R&D in 2010 is the seventh annual report from the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group documenting investments in biomedical HIV prevention research from public, philanthropic and commercial sectors. This year’s report argues that capitalizing on recent promising scientific breakthroughs will require substantial additional and sustained investment from a broader set of donors.

The major, and surprising finding of the report, given the global funding environment, is that overall investment in HIV prevention R&D had actually increased, with the modest exception of a 1 percent decline in vaccine R&D. The report documented a total US$1.19 billion investment in research and development (R&D) for four key HIV prevention options: preventive vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) using antiretroviral drugs, and operations research related to medical male circumcision. Even in the aftermath of a global recession, this investment approached the previous historical high of US$1.23 billion reached in 2007 for these four prevention technologies.

Yet to capitalize on the recent exciting prevention breakthroughs being discussed at the IAS conference, more investment will be needed across prevention technologies and from bench research to operational and implementation research.

“Certainly in this era of economic restraint it is good news that donors continue to see the value of investing in prevention research,” said Paul DeLay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. “But as we capitalize on the recent breakthroughs and move quickly to make new forms of prevention available to those who need them most, we need donors to also move quickly to ensure that funding shortfalls do not become roadblocks.”

There is an urgent need to direct resources to accelerate promise into progress. Yet the report recognized that funders continue to confront budgetary constraints, with some having reduced or eliminated their HIV prevention research programs altogether. Funding for HIV prevention research also remains highly concentrated among relatively few funders, and the Working Group warns that this narrow base of funding will threaten the sustainable research effort required at this critical time and highlights the need for broadening that base, importantly including emerging economies.

“The recent promising results of PrEP and treatment as prevention trials tell us that thirty years into the epidemic we may finally be on the path to ending AIDS,” said Mitchell Warren, AVAC executive director. “New prevention options – medical male circumcision, PrEP, microbicides and eventually vaccines – will play a critical role in reducing the cycle of new infections. As we look toward the next 30 years of AIDS, investment in prevention research has never been more important. Going forward we need funding structures that are flexible, agile, and generous enough to adapt rapidly to new opportunities.”

"We have seen tremendous progress in HIV prevention research over the last two years," said Margaret McGlynn, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). "Sustaining the momentum built through these advances depends on access to stable funding that can be flexibly applied to the most promising areas of research. This will allow us to build upon the field's successes and to move promising concepts from the pipeline into clinical trials as swiftly as possible."

“The recent exciting results in the PrEP and microbicide fields are proof that investment in HIV prevention research is bringing women and men around the world much closer to having a broad range of effective HIV prevention options,” said Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM). “Wise investments now in laboratory and clinical research, and in efforts to roll out new interventions will pay off as HIV infections decline significantly in the coming decades.”

The report is available online at: www.hivresourcetracking.org.

New York/Geneva/Rome – Tuesday 19 July 2011 – Data collected for the first time on global investments in HIV treatment-related research and development showed that at least US$ 2.46 billion was available in 2009. The Treatment Action Group, AVAC, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) issued the report which was released today at the International AIDS Society's 6^th Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment in Rome, Italy. 

The report, An Exploratory Analysis of HIV Treatment Research and Development Investments in 2009, found that 48 funders worldwide (of 144 surveyed) reported investing $US 2.46 billion across six HIV-related research categories—basic science, drug discovery and development, operational and implementation science, antiretroviral prevention, applied/infrastructure and HIV diagnostics.

“Recent scientific breakthroughs have shown that antiretroviral therapy not only saves lives, it can also prevents new infections. This is a game changer for the AIDS response and will increase demand for treatment,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS. “New investments are urgently needed to produce better, cheaper medicines to ensure the 9 million people still in need of treatment for their own health gain access and that the new demand for treatment for prevention is met.”

An estimated 6.6 million people currently have access to antiretroviral treatment and a further 9 million are still in need. In a political declaration adopted at the recent United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York, UN member states committed to expanding access to treatment for 15 million people by 2015.

“This report marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to monitor global investments in HIV treatment research. It complements the existing efforts of the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group which has been reporting on HIV prevention technology investments since 2004", said Kevin Fisher of AVAC.

Public-sector funders accounted for almost three-fourths of reported HIV treatment research and development spending, with the U.S. National Institute of Health as the leading public-sector investor worldwide in HIV treatment research and development, investing US$ 1.6 billion in 2009.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies reported investing US$ 591 million in 2009. However, the participation from the private sector in the survey was particularly low and the report outlines that this figure is likely to be substantially higher, possibly reaching over US$ 1 billion.

“HIV drug discovery and development has never been more urgent. While the discovery and development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine is ongoing, it is clear that use of antiretroviral therapy is among the most powerful tools to prevent new HIV infections, preserve health, and lengthen life expectancy” said Eleonora Jimenez-Levi, TAG’s Project Coordinator.

With new evidence showing the benefits of early initiation of HIV treatment in preventing HIV transmission, the report recommends new drug regimens be developed to be simpler, less toxic, resilient, more forgiving of treatment interruption, less prone to promote the emergence of drug resistance and have fewer complications with other drugs commonly used by people with HIV.

TAG’s Executive Director Mark Harrington concludes, “The HIV treatment research landscape is changing. Thanks to recent treatment scale-up and prevention science breakthroughs and the new global treatment target of 15 million by 2015, there is real momentum to bring the epidemic under control and ultimately end it. To capitalize on these scientific gains continued investment and innovation are necessary to prevent new infections, to ensure people currently on treatment are able to continue, and to scale up treatment to reach all those who will benefit from earlier initiation of ART.”

The report is available on-line at: www.treatmentactiongroup.org.

The HIV Treatment Research and Development Resource Tracking Project is a collaborative initiative of the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and AVAC, directed and managed by TAG, in collaboration with UNAIDS.

ABOUT TAG

Treatment Action Group (TAG) is an independent AIDS research and policy think tank fighting for better treatment, a vaccine, and a cure for AIDS. TAG works to ensure that all people with HIV receive lifesaving treatment, care, and information.

www.treatmentactiongroup.org

ABOUT AVAC

Founded in 1995, AVAC is a non-profit organization that uses education, policy analysis, advocacy and a network of global collaborations to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of AIDS vaccines, male circumcision, microbicides, PrEP and other emerging HIV prevention options as part of a comprehensive response to the pandemic.

www.avac.org

Sustained global investment is needed to ensure people most in need have access to life-saving HIV services.

GENEVA, 4 February 2011— Investments in AIDS are showing results, but the gains are fragile. Declines in international investments will affect low-income countries the most—nearly 90% rely on international funding for their AIDS programmes. Investing in the AIDS response is a shared responsibility—of donors and developing countries–and must deliver results for people.

Global Fund grants have helped save millions of lives by making billions of dollars available for HIV prevention, treatment care and support. Three million people have access to antiretroviral treatment through Global Fund grants. The financial mechanisms and systems of the Global Fund are transparent and have delivered value for communities and people affected by AIDS, TB and malaria. 

The United Nations values accountability and transparency. UNAIDS fully supports the policy of zero tolerance for corruption and calls for systems to ensure resources are utilized efficiently and appropriately. There is an urgent need to use and strengthen existing systems of countries and implementing partners to prevent misuse before it occurs.  

Decrease from US, offset by increased philanthropic giving from Europe, yields level response in time of AIDS funding crisis

Washington, D.C. and Brussels, 16 November 2010 – The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG), Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), supported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV (UNAIDS), released new reports today on HIV/AIDS-related funding from US and European philanthropic donors. The reports show that while total funding decreased slightly (by 2%), most philanthropic donors increased commitments to the AIDS response in 2009.

HIV/AIDS-related funding from European and US philanthropic donors was USD 738 million in 2009, a slight decrease from USD 752 million the previous year. The findings are being released amidst a continued economic recession, flat or declining funding from governments, and a growing need for increased HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.

Overall funding from European-based philanthropies increased significantly, reaching over €120 million (USD 152 million) in 2009, compared to €91 million in 2008. Expenditures increased by 25% in 2009 compared with 2008 among the same set of European HIV/AIDS funders, an unprecedented increase despite the current fiscal constraints.

The total given by US-based philanthropies decreased from USD 618 million in 2008 to USD 585 million in 2009, a reduction of 5% and the first decrease on record since FCAA began tracking disbursements in 2005. Funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which represented 57% of all US-based philanthropic HIV/AIDS-related funding in 2009, decreased to $334 million in 2009 from $378 million in 2008, while disbursements from all other funders increased from $237 million to $252 million (or 5%) from 2008 to 2009.

FCAA and EFG, joined by UNAIDS, commend the achievements of private donors who increased their support in 2009, but express concerns about any decrease in funding.

 “As the economy rebounds we hope that philanthropies will continue to expand their investments in the AIDS response,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS. “Investments on AIDS are starting to bear fruit as fewer people are becoming infected and with increased availability of treatment, fewer people are dying—evidence that AIDS is a smart and proven investment that will reduce costs in the long term.”

 According to a report released by UNAIDS and the Kaiser Family Foundation in July, donor government funding for HIV/AIDS, which represents a much larger share of global resources for HIV/AIDS than the philanthropic sector, was also essentially flat, decreasing from $7.7 billion in 2008 to $7.6 billion in 2009.

 “Because private funding represents a relatively small percentage of resources for HIV when compared with other larger public sources, philanthropy must exercise its unique advocacy and leadership roles in holding governments accountable, and leveraging public funds to provide an adequate response to HIV,” said John Barnes, Executive Director of FCAA.

 The rapid and unprecedented increase in financial support for HIV in previous years has saved and prolonged millions of lives, reversed years of declines in average life expectancy in many nations, and reinstilled hope in individuals and communities. Decreases in funding now could stop or reverse that hard-won progress.

 “Philanthropy can make a significant impact, especially in times like these,” said Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and EFG Chair. “Increased commitment, engagement, and financial support from private philanthropic donors can send a strong message about leadership and commitment in the fight against HIV.”

Other key findings include

• In both the US and Europe, HIV/AIDS-related philanthropic funding remained concentrated among a relatively small number of funders in 2009, with the top 10 funders (ranked by total expenditures) accounting for 83% of all HIV/AIDS-related expenditures in both regions.
• The majority of funding by both US and European-based philanthropies in 2009 was directed to addressing the epidemic outside of these regions (81% of all US and 65% of all European HIV/AIDS-related philanthropic expenditures).
• Projections by US-based funders for 2010 suggest that HIV/AIDS-related funding will decrease, with 33% of funders forecasting anticipated decreases for 2010, including the top funder, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which represented over half of all US philanthropic disbursements in 2009. Among European-based funders, projections suggest that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy funding levels may increase, with 38% of funders forecasting anticipated increases for 2010, including six of the top ten funders. 

UNAIDS, FCAA and EFG emphasize that philanthropy has a critical role to play in the AIDS response on the basis of flexibility, ability to innovate and take risks, and political independence. The FCAA and EFG annual resource tracking reports intend to inform stakeholders about the overall distribution and trends of US and European HIV/AIDS philanthropic funding, to facilitate greater coordination and transparency among funders and encourage expanded philanthropic support for HIV work.

To download the complete reports:

• U.S. Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2009 at www.fcaaids.org
• European Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2009 at www.hivaidsfunders.org

About EFG

The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) is a knowledge-based network dedicated to strengthening European philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS. The group aims to mobilise philanthropic leadership and resources to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences and to promote an enabling environment for strategic and independent giving in this field as well as fields closely connected to HIV/AIDS such human rights, global health, and global development. 

About FCAA 

Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) was founded in 1987 with the goal of mobilizing the philanthropic leadership, ideas and resources of U.S.-based funders to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic –domestically and internationally– and to address its social and economic consequences. FCAA is the only U.S.-based organization comprised of and for private philanthropic institutions concerned about, engaged in, or potentially active in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

About UNAIDS

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Learn more at unaids.org.

United States leads donor commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria at replenishment meeting in New York

GENEVA, 5 October 2010––UNAIDS welcomes commitments made by donors at the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria’s replenishment conference in New York, which was chaired this year by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The United States of America led the donations—pledging the largest ever financial commitment to the Global Fund, US$ 4 billion over three years––a 38% increase over the preceding three year period.  

More than 40 countries, including countries with emerging economies, private foundations and corporations committed more than US$ 11.7 billion for the next three years to fund health programmes for the three diseases.

“These pledges come at a critical time. We are just starting to see returns on investments with new infections coming down in most high-burden countries and more people than ever on antiretroviral treatment,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “This is a significant and necessary first milestone, but insufficient to meet aspirations. Public and private donors must continue to mobilize resources in order to secure future progress in the AIDS response.”

Despite the record pledges to the Global Fund there is still an overall funding shortfall for the AIDS response. For the first time in 15 years, overall AIDS funding has flat lined. This raises serious concerns on future progress as a slowing in investments will negatively impact the AIDS response.

It is estimated that nearly 2.8 million people are accessing treatment through financing provided by the Global Fund, more than half of the people on treatment today. However there are nearly 10 million people living with HIV who urgently need treatment. Five people are newly infected with HIV for every two people who start treatment.

Large scale investments in the AIDS response have produced encouraging results. At the MDG summit in New York two weeks ago, UNAIDS revealed new data showing that HIV infections have declined by more than 25% in 22 countries most affected by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; and with nearly 5.2 million people on antiretroviral therapy, AIDS related deaths have fallen.

President Sarkozy to support UNAIDS in its efforts to promote AIDS integration with MDGs

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 20 September 2010—UNAIDS welcomes the announcement by the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to provide US$1.4 billion to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for 2011-2013. The announcement was made by the French President at the Millennium Development Summit being held at the United Nations in New York and is expected to be the first of a number of pledges made ahead of the Global Fund’s Replenishment Meeting.

“At a time of difficult fiscal space, France has put the interests of people living with HIV first,” said Mr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. “I urge all other countries to follow the lead of France and fully fund the Global Fund.”

Mr Sidibé also met with President Sarkozy and Madame Carla Bruni Sarkozy at a meeting during the MDG summit. President Sarkozy commended UNAIDS' approach to leverage the AIDS movement as part of the broader health and development agenda. UNAIDS promotes the AIDS plus MDG approach that seeks to integrate AIDS with other MDGs, optimize efficiency in the use of resources to save and improve lives.

“AIDS is a smart investment, that is producing results for people holistically,” said Mr Sidibé. “This is a time for scaling up, not scaling down. I congratulate President Sarkozy on his bold leadership and support for the AIDS response.”

The third replenishment meeting of the Global Fund, will be held on the 4 and 5 October in New York and will be chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “Through this announcement, France has demonstrated both leadership and vision,” said Secretary General Ban. “France is setting a strong example for others to increase their commitments to The Global Fund. The replenishment of The Global Fund is a test of global solidarity. Through President Sarkozy’s announcement, France has shown strong solidarity with the women, men and children around the world who are most in need of treatment, protection and care.”

It is estimated that nearly 2.8 million people are accessing treatment through funds provided by the Global Fund, more than half of the people on treatment today. However there are nearly 10 million people living with HIV who urgently need treatment today.  Five people newly get infected with HIV for every two people who newly access treatment.

New UNAIDS data show that new HIV infections have declined by more than 25% in 22 countries most affected by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. With nearly 5.2 million people on antiretroviral therapy, AIDS related deaths have fallen.

VIENNA (20 July, 2010) – Following significant advances in vaccine and microbicide research, including results presented today of 39% efficacy in the CAPRISA 004 microbicide gel trial among women in South Africa, a new report released today warns that flat funding for HIV prevention research may limit researchers’ ability to quickly move promising approaches forward.

The report examines investment in HIV prevention research in 2009 and finds that the onset of a global recession did not immediately impact funding levels for biomedical HIV prevention research.  Total funding remained stable at approximately US$1.165 billion for preventive vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and operations research related to male circumcision.

In the face of an economic crisis that has deeply affected the economies and public-sector budgets of HIV prevention research funders, level funding for HIV prevention is cause for cautious optimism. Yet much of the 2009 funding was likely reflective of resources committed when the global economy was far healthier. As current funding commitments come to an end, the concern will be whether funders will be able to renew commitments at existing funding levels. Furthermore, the report authors argue that flat funding of HIV prevention research could have serious consequences for the field as results from critical prevention trials move the research agenda forward. They warn that researchers could have insufficient resources to advance important opportunities to prevent HIV.

Advancing the Science in a Time of Fiscal Constraint: Funding for HIV Prevention Technologies in 2009, the sixth annual report from the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group, was released today at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.  It documents investments in biomedical HIV prevention research from public, philanthropic and commercial sectors in 2009. HIV vaccines continued to receive the majority of funding, with a total of US$868 million, which was equal to 2008 funding levels. Investment in microbicides was US$236 million, a decline of 3 percent from 2008 levels. Funding for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) increased by 18 percent over 2008 levels to US$52 million.

The stability in funding is encouraging, given a 10 percent decrease in funding for AIDS vaccine research seen in 2008, but the Working Group identified several areas of concern if funding remains flat, including escalating costs of late-stage clinical research, dependency on a small group of funders and a lack of diversity in funders. In addition, the Working Group stresses that the CAPRISA 004 results, while tremendously exciting, are by no means the definitive answer about antiretroviral-based microbicides and appropriately resourced confirmatory and exploratory research will be needed.

The Working Group has documented an overall trend since 2000 toward increased funding of new funders joining in the effort to support HIV prevention research. Yet in 2009, this funding stability was largely the result of increased or sustained funding by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which together accounted for 79 percent of vaccine funding, 59 percent of microbicide funding and 70 percent of PrEP funding.

“With five new infections, for every two people newly on treatment we cannot give up our quest for new HIV prevention tools” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Investments for HIV prevention must be enhanced and sustained.”
 
“As we push for expanded funding and political commitments for HIV prevention research and the overall AIDS response, we must also work to find smart and innovative ways to make the best use of available funding to continue to scale up delivery of existing interventions and to look for new ones,” said Mitchell Warren executive director of AVAC. “HIV prevention researchers, advocates and donors must all commit to working together to ensure that we make the best and smartest use of limited resources, while also ensuring that the most promising interventions continue to move forward.”

Recent and upcoming results from several major studies could radically change the trajectory of HIV prevention research and increase the need for funding. These include the results of the RV144 Thai AIDS vaccine trial, which showed modest protection against HIV and scientifically demonstrated for the first time that an AIDS vaccine was possible, results from an important proof of concept microbicide trial CAPRISA 004, released yesterday at the Vienna AIDS conference, and anticipated results from two PrEP trials in the coming year.

“This is a very exciting time in HIV prevention research,” said Seth Berkley, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. “As the prevention research field is primed to exploit scientific advances availability and flexibility of funding will be critically important.  Our ability to move discoveries into and to undertake even the most critical of these large-scale trials is at risk in the current funding environment.”

 “We must work to continuously ensure resources are available to fulfill the promise of new scientific advances that could save millions of lives,” said Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides.  “Microbicides, PrEP, vaccines and treatment-as-prevention are just beginning to show great promise for HIV prevention in large-scale trials.  As we work together to develop these tools and transform our global health goals into reality, our success depends on having sufficient resources to keep pace with research developments in the field.”

Since 2004, the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group has generated estimates of research and development investment that can be compared year to year, from one HIV prevention technology to another, and across funding sources.  This effort supports the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, which called for the development of sustainable and affordable prevention technologies, such as HIV vaccines and microbicides. Information collected in previous years has also been used by the Working Group and others to monitor levels of effort, to analyze the significance of investment trends, and to assess the impact of public policies aimed at accelerating scientific progress.

The Working Group is composed of  AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention (AVAC), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

More information is available online at www.hivresourcetracking.org.

VIENNA, Austria – Overall support for global AIDS efforts from donor nations flattened in the midst of last year’s global economic crisis, according to a new analysis of 2009 funding levels from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

In 2009, the Group of Eight nations, European Commission (EC) and other donor governments provided US$7.6 billion for AIDS relief in developing nations, compared with US$7.7 billion disbursed in 2008.

The 2009 totals ended a run of annual double-digit percentage point increases in donor support for international AIDS assistance since at least 2002, when donor governments provided a total of US$1.2 billion.  The results are consistent with preliminary data about overall trends in official developmental assistance during last year’s global recession and economic instability.

 “Donor nations essentially were treading water last year on AIDS relief, but did not cut back overall as they dealt with the economic tsunami that sparked a global recession,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said.  “Time will tell whether support will resume its rapid growth once the global recovery takes hold.”

“Reductions in investment on AIDS programs are hurting the AIDS response. At a time when we are seeing results in HIV prevention and treatment, we must scale up, not scale down,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. 

This year’s totals reflect a substantial increase in funding provided by the United States (rising from US$3.95 billion in 2008 to US$4.4 billion in 2009), which helped to offset reductions in support from Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands

The United States remains the largest donor nation in the world, accounting for more than half (58%) of 2009 disbursements, followed by United Kingdom (10.2%), Germany (5.2%), the Netherlands (5%), and France (4.4%). Denmark accounted for 2.5%.

The new report provides the latest data available on donor funding based on data provided by governments and collected and analyzed by researchers as part of a collaborative effort between Kaiser and UNAIDS, with research assistance provided by the Stimson Center.  It does not examine donor nation support for other health and development efforts.

Other key findings include:

• UNAIDS estimates that US$23.6 billion was needed to address the epidemic in low- and middle- income countries in 2009.  That suggests a growing gap of US$7.7 billion between available resources and need, according to UNAIDS estimates.
• In 2009, donor governments disbursed US$5.9 billion bilaterally and earmarked funds for HIV through multilateral organizations, as well as an additional US$1.6 billion to combat HIV through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and US$123 million to UNITAID.

The full report is available online at the Kaiser Family Foundation’s website at http://www.kff.org/hivaids/7347.cfm or on the UNAIDS’ website http://www.unaids.org/.