The 8th Replenishment is not over

It has been an emotional day today in South Africa at the 8th Replenishment Pledging Summit. If there was a storyline to the day, it could be that so many implementing countries and traditionally “smaller” donors stepped up with increased – or at least, maintenance – pledges.

 

Many donors however, were a bit missing in action.  Canada and Italy decreased their pledges as compared to the past replenishment. The US also pledged a lower amount but the new administration made a multi-year pledge of up to 4.6 billion – and confirmed that they have removed their set-aside for technical assistance and will maintain the current 2:1 ratio of matching other donors pledges. 

 

Japan, France and the European Commission all spoke today and reconfirmed the value in the work of the Global Fund, its work and its impact and all indicated that they would pledge at a later date.

 

It might be easy to feel dispirited today and none of us would  suggest that today has been an unqualified success. We are – as of today – nowhere near maintaining GC7 levels of country allocations or automatically triggering a certain amount in Catalytic Investments. But we are not done yet. We do see the opportunity to raise in excess of the USD$11.34 billion announced today for the 8th Replenishment; in the year it has been for global health this is not nothing.

 

You have all been working so hard in so many ways and we thank you, all – sincerely – for your individual and collective efforts for this 8th Replenishment.

 

We must rest (a little!), regroup and find the opportunities in today’s outcome. Three historically major donors to the Global Fund have committed to pledging soon and reiterated the value to their global work and impact of the Global Fund – we must support those leading advocacy in those countries and bring those 3 and other donors who did not pledge today to the table.

The summit was today – but the pledging for the 8th Replenishment is not yet over.

 

Our pledge tracker is up to date with the best information we have at this time – you can feel confident in using what is there alongside the GFs own pledge sheet. We will hold an informal “hot-takes” debrief on Monday at 8 am ET (this has been shared already and reminders will be sent) – it will be an opportunity to think about immediate next steps.

 

The 8th Replenishment is not over.

 

In solidarity,