Exclusive: Global health funds push for more private money, fearing government retreat

Jennifer Rigby - Reuters - 22/01
One of the world's biggest global health funders will ask the private sector for a steep increase in donations as concern of a shortfall in government contributions grows following a U.S. decision to exit the World Health Organization.
  • Global Fund to fight disease seeks 50% rise in private donations
  • Financial pressure on governments very tight, chief says
  • Vaccine group Gavi also plans to broaden its funding sources
  • Funding fears exacerbated by US decision to quit WHO this week
LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - One of the world's biggest global health funders will ask the private sector for a steep increase in donations as concern of a shortfall in government contributions grows following a U.S. decision to exit the World Health Organization.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria told Reuters it will ask for almost 50% more money from private entities, including philanthropic organisations and companies, for a total of $2 billion, when it launches a new funding round later this year.
Executive Director Peter Sands said the plan, due to be announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was already in place before the U.S. election in November. International aid groups are grappling with a tight fiscal climate globally, as well as increasing demand for their work, from coping with conflict to responding to climate change, he said.
The fund is "raising the bar on what we want to achieve with private sector donors," Sands said in an interview this week.
In its last funding round, the Global Fund raised $15.7 billion for its work over three years. That included $1.3 billion from the private sector, including philanthropic groups like the Gates Foundation and companies such as mining giant A...
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