Global AIDS Policy Partnership Applauds Biden Administration’s Announcement that the U.S. Will Host Global Fund’s Replenishment

The Global AIDS Policy Partnership applauds the Biden Administration’s announcement that the U.S. will host the Global Fund’s seventh replenishment conference in 2022. We thank the Administration for their commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and the leadership shown by agreeing to host this critical event, and for leveraging the U.S.’s important role in that fight to bring together countries to agree to commit to ending HIV by 2030.

The Global Fund’s seventh replenishment comes at a pivotal time in the fight against HIV/AIDS. After nearly two years of the countries with the highest HIV burden fighting concurrent pandemics of HIV and COVID-19, we face the first backwards progression in key HIV indicators in over a decade. Compared with 2019, people reached with HIV prevention programs and services declined by 11% while young people reached with prevention services declined by 12%. Medical male circumcision for HIV prevention declined by 27%. HIV tests taken declined by 22%. Additionally, the global donor landscape continues to shrink, threatening our ability to meet the worldwide goal of ending HIV by 2030. Global resources to fight HIV and AIDS have decreased since 2017, leaving a 25 percent shortfall for what is needed to fully address the pandemic. According to UNAIDS, increases in resources for HIV responses in low- and middle-income countries stalled in 2017, and funding decreased by 7% between 2017 and 2019. In 2020, donor government funding for HIV did increase, but it was due almost entirely to planned increases to the Global Fund. Bilateral funding from other countries decreased by nearly $100M in 2020, continuing the overall trend in declining funding.

The success of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) relies heavily on Global Fund investments to supplement programs. For example, the Global Fund is the primary purchaser of antiretroviral medication in many PEPFAR countries. The Global Fund works closely with PEPFAR teams and governments to jointly plan program alignment and support scale up, using resources efficiently and preventing duplication of efforts. Additionally, through PEPFAR, the U.S. government holds a permanent seat as a member of the Global Fund’s Board.

Hosting the Global Fund’s replenishment presents an incredible opportunity for the Biden Administration to bring countries together to recommit to ending the HIV pandemic in the U.S. and abroad. To contend with the challenges posed by COVID-19 and future variants and restore progress against HIV/AIDS, it is crucial to secure strong commitments from both donor and implementing countries. The U.S. is the ideal broker to leverage investments and lead cooperation among global partners.