The Global Fund Advocates Network Strategic Meeting is an annual event that brings together partners and civil society organisations to discuss updates on HIV, TB, and Malaria and plan activities for the year. GFAN is a global platform that unites the voices and efforts of civil society networks in health from around the world to support a fully funded Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
My name is Priscilla Ama Addo, and I had the privilege of representing the Speakers Bureau as a GFAN speaker at this important meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from 20-22 March 2024. I represented both the work I do at the country level and as a Communications and Advocacy Trainee at Y+ Global.
During an intensive three-day event, we thoroughly examined the Global Fund's current processes and outcomes, identified potential threats to funding for the three epidemics - HIV, TB, and Malaria, and explored the forthcoming investment case for the 8th Replenishment.
The Global Fund is an exceptionally diverse entity that collaborates with various governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society organisations, and communities to mobilise and distribute funding, commodities, and other resources in the fight against these deadly diseases. It remains one of the largest entities dedicated to responding to these epidemics, relying heavily on partnerships with various stakeholders to achieve its goals.
As someone who participated in the 7th Replenishment of the Global Fund in Ghana, I'm excited to see what the 8th Replenishment will bring. We've made significant progress globally, having raised almost $16 billion of the $18 billion target for the 7th Replenishment. I spent a lot of time thinking about how successful we could be this time around.
During the last replenishment, we had lengthy discussions about the difficulties civil society organisations face with other donors and governments. We identified ways to refocus our efforts on fighting HIV, TB, and Malaria and made the case for how these diseases intersect with current global trends like climate change and conflict.
The tension in the room was palpable when it became apparent that there were funding gaps for HIV, TB, and Malaria for 2026-2029, which happens to be the last period to achieve the targets set for 2030.
It has become evident that health discussions and decisions are used as a geopolitical leverage tool, a comment that was emphasised by several participants at the meeting. Unfortunately, some stakeholders within government, intergovernmental organisations, and the private sector seem indifferent to the severity of the decline in progress made in addressing the three diseases, especially during this election year for many countries. This puts us at a significant risk of witnessing decreased funding and, as a result, an increase in loss of lives.
Although the reality is grim, we drew up some strong action points that would help the Global Fund to receive more funding and continue its crucial work in the global health sector. Some of the commitments and outcomes from our meeting were:
- We must remind those in power that global health is as important as climate and conflict.
- Communities at risk affect us all, so we must prioritise health on the agenda.
- The Global Fund is a testament to the effectiveness of partnerships.
- We must do everything possible to maintain the progress made in addressing HIV, TB, and Malaria.
- We must take full advantage of all high-level stakeholder engagements, such as conferences and other events.
The GFAN network strongly encouraged civil society organisations to work together closely and to seek support from private corporations and other international partners in preparation for the 8th Replenishment and contribute to achieving the overarching goals set for 2030.
After the meeting, I was determined to encourage youth-led networks and communities working with young people living with and affected by HIV to participate in the 8th Replenishment process. I also wanted to celebrate the impactful work carried out by communities under the Global Fund thus far and explore how we can encourage more partners to support our mission. I understand that it won't be an easy road, but if we remain steadfast in our efforts, we can create a world where these three diseases no longer claim lives.