The Global Fund and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to support nation-led programmes fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in the Asia and Pacific region, which includes 18 Commonwealth member states
The Global Fund and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to support nation-led programmes fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in the Asia and Pacific region, which includes 18 Commonwealth member states.
Global Fund and ADB will support financing, design and implementation aspects of the health programmes and will build health systems in ADB member countries that are eligible for Global Fund financing.
Global Fund has allocated more than US$2 billion for programmes in Asia and the Pacific for 2017-2020.
In addition, ADB’s Strategy 2020 will help to increase investment in the region’s health sector to 3-5% of its total operations, totalling $1billion by 2020.
The strategy also supports the gradual transition of countries from Global Fund grants to other funding sources, in particular increased domestic financing.
In 2016, financial assistance from ADB equalled $31.7 billion, which included $14 billion in co-financing.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) prioritises HIV, TB and malaria as diseases with a large-scale impact on disability, morbidity and mortality.
In the South East Asia region alone, WHO calculates that TB contributes to 36% of the world’s disease burden, with HIV/AIDS and malaria contributing 10% and 5% respectively.
Interim Executive Director of the Global Fund, Marijke Wijnroks, said: “The agreement exemplifies the Global Fund’s commitment to strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks.
“Development finance institutions like ADB can augment the impact and footprint of Global Fund grants by leveraging additional investment, building financial sustainability, and reinforcing transparency.”
ADB Vice-President for Private Sector and Co-financing Operations, Diwakar Gupta, said: “The Global Fund and ADB are building on five years of collaboration through the Regional Malaria and Communicable Diseases Threats Trust Fund.
“The Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, for example, is working closely with Global Fund partners to improve supply chain, financial management, and program quality related to malaria.
“In addition to supporting the malaria elimination goal, we are working together to build attractive financing mechanisms for health system strengthening in ADB member countries.”
