GFO Issue 461, Article Number: 4
ABSTRACT
On 11 March 2025, the Global Fund Advocates Network Africa launched the ‘One World, One Fight’ campaign, which mobilizes civil society to advocate for a fully funded Global Fund in its Eighth Replenishment. The campaign emphasizes African leadership, domestic health investments, and sustained global commitments to fight HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
In the middle of a potential global health crisis, civil society organizations are uniting to advocate for a fully funded Global Fund to steer the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. On 11 March 2025, global health advocates and civil society organizations assembled virtually to launch the ‘One World, One Fight’ campaign—an initiative rallying the African region to increase domestic resource mobilization and support a fully funded Global Fund. This is a civil society led initiative, which demands a fully funded Global Fund Eighth Replenishment and underscores the urgency of securing $18 billion for the next three-year funding cycle (2027-2029). The Global Fund Advocates Network Africa (GFAN Africa) organized the event.
The campaign emphasizes the need for sustained investment to prevent backsliding on decades of progress against the three diseases. Also, it amplifies African leadership, mobilizes political commitments for domestic health investments, and activates civil society and community champions to support Global Fund’s replenishment efforts. Key representatives from the Global Fund Secretariat, regional advocacy organizations, and government officials reinforced the necessity of continued global health funding.
A critical moment for global health
Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved 65 million lives by funding prevention, treatment, and care programs for the three diseases. But getting the necessary funds is becoming more and more difficult due to changing political priorities, donor fatigue, and economic uncertainties.
Brice Bambara, Civil Society Advocacy Associate Specialist at the Global Fund, highlighted the economic and health benefits of investing in the Fund. “With an $18 billion investment, we can achieve a return of $323 billion between 2027 and 2029. The cost of inaction is clear—rising infections, drug resistance, and greater pressure on already fragile health systems.”
If fully funded, the Global Fund will:
- Save 23 million more lives by 2029.
- Prevent 400 million new cases of HIV, TB, and malaria.
- Strengthening health systems to enhance preparedness for future pandemics
The uphill task remains convincing donors to scale up their financial commitments to the Global Fund, considering the global economic pressures.
African leadership and domestic investment
While donor funding remains vital, achieving sustainable health financing requires national governments, particularly in Africa, to increase their domestic investments. “Africa is not just an implementing partner; it leads the Global Fund partnership,” said Carthi Mannikarottu, Communications Lead at WACI Health. “We need to ensure African voices, especially civil society and communities, shape the replenishment discussions.”
Despite longstanding commitments like the Abuja Declaration, which urges governments to allocate 15% of national budgets to healthcare, many countries continue to fall short. Olivia Ngou, Executive Director of Impact Santé Afrique, called on governments to take greater ownership of their health systems. “If we want to build resilient health systems, we must invest in them. We cannot rely solely on donor funding forever. National governments must take responsibility,” she said.
The One World, One Fight campaign aims to mobilize political leaders and civil society organizations to push for increased health budgets and ensure the long-term sustainability of national health programs.
Youth and community leadership at the forefront
The campaign recognizes the key role of youth and community-led initiatives in fighting the three diseases. “When we invest in youth, we secure the future of this fight. Young people must participate in decision-making processes,” said Laura Lontsi, co-founder of the Cameroonian Network of Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV (RéCAJ+).
Community involvement remains essential. “Communities form the backbone of the Global Fund partnership. They ensure access to services, advocate for rights, and drive innovation in care delivery,” said Hamza Djibo, Executive Director of the NGO for Education, Health, and Improvement of the Living Environment (ESCAVI).
United Kingdom foreign aid cuts and the Global Fund Replenishment
Concerns have been raised over the recent United Kingdom’s (UK) plan to reduce its foreign aid budget. Global health advocates contend that communities and vulnerable groups worldwide that rely on aid for basic services like healthcare will suffer severe repercussions if aid is removed. Advocates are especially concerned about how these cuts may affect the UK's Global Fund contributions. This is despite the UK government promises to continue supporting global health. Experts caution that the scope of these cuts may jeopardize international efforts to combat infectious illnesses.
Saoirse Fitzpatrick, Co-Director of Advocacy at STOPAIDS, highlighted the challenges posed by the aid reduction. Fitzpatrick described the situation as "disastrous," considering existing U.S. foreign aid cuts. “The UK is co-hosting the aid replenishment with the government of South Africa, which was brilliant news," Fitzpatrick noted. "We saw this as a key way for the government to fulfill its commitment to building deeper partnerships with actors in the Global South—governments, civil society, and communities. Unfortunately, just a week later, we learned that international aid would be cut by 40%."
She added that while global health, climate finance, and humanitarian aid for crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine are designated as protected areas, concerns remain that the sheer scale of the cuts will still affect these sectors. “The previous International Development Minister resigned over these cuts, and we now have a new minister without a background in international development. We are in a difficult position,” she said. Despite these setbacks, Fitzpatrick expressed hope that the UK’s co-hosting role in the replenishment effort with South Africa could serve as a counterbalance to criticism of the aid cuts. “We hope the UK government will use this as an opportunity to show that they are still committed to international engagement and honoring partnerships,” she stated.
Fitzpatrick outlined current advocacy efforts, including engagement with the new minister, collaborations with high commissioners from African nations, and parliamentary pressure campaigns. “We are organizing a parliamentary delegation to South Africa in May,” she shared. "These trips are crucial because they allow MPs to witness firsthand the impact of the Global Fund. Personal testimony is incredibly powerful when they return to Parliament and advocate for continued support."
Additionally, discussions are underway to replicate a successful multi-stakeholder dialogue from the previous replenishment cycle, where U.S. Congress members and African MPs engaged with civil society representatives to discuss the impact of Global Fund programs.
According to Fitzpatrick reducing UK’s contribution could have potential negative health outcomes. “A 40% cut in UK aid could result in 600,000 fewer lives saved,” she cautioned. “We need to communicate what is at stake—whether it’s antimicrobial resistance, pandemic preparedness, or overall progress in global health.”
Holding governments accountable
Beyond securing financial commitments, the One World, One Fight campaign urges civil society to ensure transparency and accountability in fund utilization. Active involvement of civil society in tracking and reporting on the use of resources provided by the Global Fund will guarantee that those resources reach the intended beneficiaries. The campaign aims to persuade community organizations, journalists, and activists to actively engage in tracking health expenditures and ensuring that funds reach the people who need them most.
A call to action
The ‘One World, One Fight’ campaign urges stakeholders to leverage advocacy tools, including social media, direct engagement with policymakers, and regional partnerships, to push governments and donor community to fully-fund the Global Fund during the upcoming replenishment campaign. "We must communicate the urgency of this replenishment. Every decision taken now will shape the future of global health," said Mannikarottu.
The road ahead requires sustained efforts from all actors—civil society, governments, and private sector partners—to meet funding targets and sustain progress in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. "We are in one world and one fight. The time to act is now," concluded Ngou.
With the Global Fund replenishment conference approaching, the campaign serves as a critical reminder that global health security and equity depend on strong partnerships, bold investments, and unwavering advocacy.
In the middle of a potential global health crisis, civil society organizations are uniting to advocate for a fully funded Global Fund to steer the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. On 11 March 2025, global health advocates and civil society organizations assembled virtually to launch the ‘One World, One Fight’ campaign—an initiative rallying the African region to increase domestic resource mobilization and support a fully funded Global Fund. This is a civil society led initiative, which demands a fully funded Global Fund Eighth Replenishment and underscores the urgency of securing $18 billion for the next three-year funding cycle (2027-2029). The Global Fund Advocates Network Africa (GFAN Africa) organized the event.
The campaign emphasizes the need for sustained investment to prevent backsliding on decades of progress against the three diseases. Also, it amplifies African leadership, mobilizes political commitments for domestic health investments, and activates civil society and community champions to support Global Fund’s replenishment efforts. Key representatives from the Global Fund Secretariat, regional advocacy organizations, and government officials reinforced the necessity of continued global health funding.
A critical moment for global health
Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved 65 million lives by funding prevention, treatment, and care programs for the three diseases. But getting the necessary funds is becoming more and more difficult due to changing political priorities, donor fatigue, and economic uncertainties.
Brice Bambara, Civil Society Advocacy Associate Specialist at the Global Fund, highlighted the economic and health benefits of investing in the Fund. “With an $18 billion investment, we can achieve a return of $323 billion between 2027 and 2029. The cost of inaction is clear—rising infections, drug resistance, and greater pressure on already fragile health systems.”
If fully funded, the Global Fund will:
- Save 23 million more lives by 2029.
- Prevent 400 million new cases of HIV, TB, and malaria.
- Strengthening health systems to enhance preparedness for future pandemics
The uphill task remains convincing donors to scale up their financial commitments to the Global Fund, considering the global economic pressures.
African leadership and domestic investment
While donor funding remains vital, achieving sustainable health financing requires national governments, particularly in Africa, to increase their domestic investments. “Africa is not just an implementing partner; it leads the Global Fund partnership,” said Carthi Mannikarottu, Communications Lead at WACI Health. “We need to ensure African voices, especially civil society and communities, shape the replenishment discussions.”
Despite longstanding commitments like the Abuja Declaration, which urges governments to allocate 15% of national budgets to healthcare, many countries continue to fall short. Olivia Ngou, Executive Director of Impact Santé Afrique, called on governments to take greater ownership of their health systems. “If we want to build resilient health systems, we must invest in them. We cannot rely solely on donor funding forever. National governments must take responsibility,” she said.
The One World, One Fight campaign aims to mobilize political leaders and civil society organizations to push for increased health budgets and ensure the long-term sustainability of national health programs.
Youth and community leadership at the forefront
The campaign recognizes the key role of youth and community-led initiatives in fighting the three diseases. “When we invest in youth, we secure the future of this fight. Young people must participate in decision-making processes,” said Laura Lontsi, co-founder of the Cameroonian Network of Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV (RéCAJ+).
Community involvement remains essential. “Communities form the backbone of the Global Fund partnership. They ensure access to services, advocate for rights, and drive innovation in care delivery,” said Hamza Djibo, Executive Director of the NGO for Education, Health, and Improvement of the Living Environment (ESCAVI).
United Kingdom foreign aid cuts and the Global Fund Replenishment
Concerns have been raised over the recent United Kingdom’s (UK) plan to reduce its foreign aid budget. Global health advocates contend that communities and vulnerable groups worldwide that rely on aid for basic services like healthcare will suffer severe repercussions if aid is removed. Advocates are especially concerned about how these cuts may affect the UK's Global Fund contributions. This is despite the UK government promises to continue supporting global health. Experts caution that the scope of these cuts may jeopardize international efforts to combat infectious illnesses.
Saoirse Fitzpatrick, Co-Director of Advocacy at STOPAIDS, highlighted the challenges posed by the aid reduction. Fitzpatrick described the situation as "disastrous," considering existing U.S. foreign aid cuts. “The UK is co-hosting the aid replenishment with the government of South Africa, which was brilliant news," Fitzpatrick noted. "We saw this as a key way for the government to fulfill its commitment to building deeper partnerships with actors in the Global South—governments, civil society, and communities. Unfortunately, just a week later, we learned that international aid would be cut by 40%."
She added that while global health, climate finance, and humanitarian aid for crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine are designated as protected areas, concerns remain that the sheer scale of the cuts will still affect these sectors. “The previous International Development Minister resigned over these cuts, and we now have a new minister without a background in international development. We are in a difficult position,” she said. Despite these setbacks, Fitzpatrick expressed hope that the UK’s co-hosting role in the replenishment effort with South Africa could serve as a counterbalance to criticism of the aid cuts. “We hope the UK government will use this as an opportunity to show that they are still committed to international engagement and honoring partnerships,” she stated.
Fitzpatrick outlined current advocacy efforts, including engagement with the new minister, collaborations with high commissioners from African nations, and parliamentary pressure campaigns. “We are organizing a parliamentary delegation to South Africa in May,” she shared. "These trips are crucial because they allow MPs to witness firsthand the impact of the Global Fund. Personal testimony is incredibly powerful when they return to Parliament and advocate for continued support."
Additionally, discussions are underway to replicate a successful multi-stakeholder dialogue from the previous replenishment cycle, where U.S. Congress members and African MPs engaged with civil society representatives to discuss the impact of Global Fund programs.
According to Fitzpatrick reducing UK’s contribution could have potential negative health outcomes. “A 40% cut in UK aid could result in 600,000 fewer lives saved,” she cautioned. “We need to communicate what is at stake—whether it’s antimicrobial resistance, pandemic preparedness, or overall progress in global health.”
Holding governments accountable
Beyond securing financial commitments, the One World, One Fight campaign urges civil society to ensure transparency and accountability in fund utilization. Active involvement of civil society in tracking and reporting on the use of resources provided by the Global Fund will guarantee that those resources reach the intended beneficiaries. The campaign aims to persuade community organizations, journalists, and activists to actively engage in tracking health expenditures and ensuring that funds reach the people who need them most.
A call to action
The ‘One World, One Fight’ campaign urges stakeholders to leverage advocacy tools, including social media, direct engagement with policymakers, and regional partnerships, to push governments and donor community to fully-fund the Global Fund during the upcoming replenishment campaign. "We must communicate the urgency of this replenishment. Every decision taken now will shape the future of global health," said Mannikarottu.
The road ahead requires sustained efforts from all actors—civil society, governments, and private sector partners—to meet funding targets and sustain progress in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. "We are in one world and one fight. The time to act is now," concluded Ngou.
With the Global Fund replenishment conference approaching, the campaign serves as a critical reminder that global health security and equity depend on strong partnerships, bold investments, and unwavering advocacy.
