Core Contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 2023-2025

Based in Geneva, The Global Fund (GF) attracts, leverages and invests ressources to end the infectious diseases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and to support the achievement of the SDGs. Foremost a financing mechanism, the GF works in complementarity with UN-organisations and other entities, including the private sector, that develop disease-specific strategies and support countries in implementing their national health strategies with GF’s funds. The GF has been an important player in the global response to COVID-19. It will continue to play a major role in pandemic preparedness and response.

Since March 2019, the GF is the main tenant of the Global Health Campus, a building that hosts five international health organizations, thus becoming a landmark that reinforces Geneva's role as the “International health capital”.

Since it was created in 2002, the GF has contributed to the fight against the three diseases as part of a collective effort that includes strong contributions by governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Thanks to its active communication, the GF manages to raise large amounts of multilateral funding and invests nearly US$4 billion a year to support programmes run by partners with local expertise in countries and communities most in need.

As a result:

• 44 million lives saved; through programs supported by the GF by the end of 2021;
• A decline of by more than half in the number of people dying from the three diseases since 2002;
• The Fund's previous investments in health systems strengthening (e.g. disease surveillance systems, laboratory network, community health workers, or supply chains) have been the foundation for an effective response to COVID-19.
• In the global response to COVID-19, the GF is the main provider of grants to low- and middle-income countries for all non-vaccine COVID-19 tools.

Switzerland has contributed to guaranteeing that the GF’s work on HIV/AIDS and malaria is aligned to global norms and standards and that it evolves to respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Switzerland’s engagement on the role of Country coordinating mechanisms has resulted in approval by the Board to fund an initiative to strengthen them. Switzerland’s partnership with Germany on BACKUP Health (GIZ) contributed to bringing forward this strategic discussion thanks to technical assistance to GF’s country partners.

As part of the GF Ethics and Governance Committee, Switzerland has contributed strongly to further developing these functions.

Switzerland’s financial contribution to the GF is reinforced by its bilateral work on health systems, health equity, malaria and HIV/AIDS in partner countries where the GF is also present.

It is an imperative for the GF to regain lost ground in the fight against the three diseases, as well as to continue to strengthen health systems to ensure impact, sustainability, and better preparedness and response to pandemics.

The health goals and targets set in the 2023-2028 Global Fund Strategy are explictly linked to the global disease targets developed by its main multilateral specialised partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The GF will also contribute to the realization of the SDGs. In particular, financing provided through the GF will contribute to enable countries meet Goal 3 and the associated target 3.3 that seeks to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030.

The new GF Strategy covers the next six years across two three-year grant cycles. To complement the primary goal of ending AIDS, TB and malaria, the Strategy adds four mutually reinforcing contributory objectives around:

1. People-centered integrated systems for health; 
2. Engagement and leadership of affected communities to leave no one behind; 
3. Maximizing health equity, gender equality and human rights; 
4. Mobilizing increased resources.

Reflecting the fundamental change in context and modus operandi as a result of COVID-19, the Strategy adds a further evolving objective around Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

Switzerland’s priorities in policy influencing correspond to areas where the GF can further improve its efficiency and effectiveness:

1. Further strengthen health systems, enabling them to integrate sustained prevention and treatment services for the three diseases, as well as to be more resilient to other infectious diseases. 
2. Support the GF in putting greater emphasis on programmatic and financial sustainability. 
3. Enabling partnerships – with a coherent and complementarity approach of the GF with other global actors in health. 
4. Further support the GF’s institutional development, especially in the area of governance, including prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH).

Projected ranking: 18th
If all donors increase their contributions by 30%, Switzerland will drop in the ranking.

2020-2022 Replenishment and COVID-19 mechanism:
a) Government donors: Norway, Sweden, UK, USA, France, Canada, Luxemburg, Qatar, Germany, Switzerland, European Commission, Japan, Australia
b) Private sector and nongovernmental donors: USD ≈ 1193 million

In the GF Board, Switzerland belongs to a constituency with Canada and Australia. Canada is the Board member and Australia and Switzerland rotate for the alternate member seat. Switzerland will take over from Australia the function of “Alternate Board Member” for the period mid-2022 to mid-2024.