Johannesburg, South Africa – The ONE Campaign has urged world leaders to increase their commitments to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria after the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund fell short of its US$18 billion target.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ONE Campaign CEO Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli said the pledges, while significant, underscored a worrying gap in global political will.
“While today’s pledges have fallen short of the US$18 billion total fundraising target, it is clear many world leaders have still chosen to prioritize lifesaving health investments,” she said. “We have the innovations required to tackle these deadly diseases… we just need the resources and political will to end them in our lifetime.”
This year’s replenishment conference, the first global health financing summit to be hosted on African soil, drew governments, donor agencies and civil society to Johannesburg. But despite the symbolism and momentum, major donors held back.
Adrian Lovett, ONE’s Executive Director for the UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific, warned that the shortfall came at a critical moment in the global fight against infectious diseases.
“Just as the world stands on the brink of an incredible breakthrough in reducing deaths from these devastating diseases, some partners have stepped back from the fight,” he said. “At the last replenishment, nearly 90% of the funds pledged came from seven leading donors. This time, four of those reduced their pledge and three – France, Japan and the European Commission – did not pledge today.”
He added that while those countries have indicated they will announce their commitments later, the delay poses real risks. “Millions of lives depend on leaders matching their words with action,” he said.
The Global Fund, founded in 2002, has helped save an estimated 70 million lives and cut mortality from AIDS, TB and malaria by 63%, according to its latest data. The organisation says it needs US$18 billion for its next funding cycle, which would allow it to save a further 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029 and prevent around 400 million new infections.
The ONE Campaign said the Johannesburg conference showed that international cooperation remains possible despite geopolitical tensions, but warned against complacency.
“Our world is safer, more prosperous, and more stable when we work together to combat disease,” the organisation said. “Today’s replenishment demonstrates that the spirit of cooperation still exists. But we need to continue investing.”
Ongoing updates on donor commitments are being tracked by ONE’s data platform.
