13/06/2009: Statement to the Japanese Government on the Global Fund Funding Gap

His Excellency Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan,
His Excellency Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan,

An Open Letter to the Government of Japan on the Needs of Resource Mobilization for the Global Fund

Human security has always stood at the heart of Japanese policy; reaching out to provide aid or standing in solidarity at times when human security is threatened. In the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster, Japan provided USD 500 Million in grant aid to the thousands affected by the giant waves smashing into the coast lines. Most recently, when the economic crisis threatened the stability of the world, Japan declared a USD 17 Billion aid package to help Asian countries weather the economic downturn. Japan has quickly stepped up to the plate, providing unprecedented amount of emergency fund when catastrophes that shake the very foundations of human security occur.

Today, we write to you of another crisis the world is facing: A 5 Billion+ funding gap (2008-2010) of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, the leading financial institution in the fight against the three most infectious diseases.

The Global Fund has begun to turn the tide against the three most infectious diseases that until its inception caused five million deaths every year, and have undermined the social, political and economic foundation and progress of countries. Seven years since the birth of the Global Fund, the Global Fund has approved the funding of USD 11.4 Billion for more than 550 programs in 136 countries, and is now responsible for a quarter of international financing for AIDS globally, two-thirds for tuberculosis, and three-quarters for malaria. To date the Global Fund has been responsible for:

i. Providing anti-retroviral treatments for two million people living with HIV/AIDS;
ii. Detecting and treating 4.6 million cases of infectious Tuberculosis;
iii. Distributing 70 million insecticide treated bed nets and 74 million on treatment for malaria

However, this progress towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goal 6 and Universal Access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care by 2010 is now under threat without an immediate USD 5 Billion + funding from the leading G8 countries.

In addition to the tremendous human toll, the economical impact is the loss of productivity due to tuberculosis drains USD 16 billion from the annual incomes of the world's poorest communities, while resource needs to fight the disease are estimated to be USD 4.2 billion in 2009. The economic impacts of malaria are estimated to cost African countries USD 12 billion per year in lost GDP; compare that to USD 3.4 billion needed to prevent such losses. Finally, AIDS threatens to reduce GDP in African countries by up to 2.6%.

In April of 2008, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda pledged USD 560 Million in the coming few years to the Global Fund. In March 2009, Japan has begun rolling out this money for fiscal year 2009 with USD 194 Million toward the Global Fund. However this is an amount provided too slow and too low, and far from addressing the current funding gap crisis of the Global Fund.

Today, we call upon the Japanese Government, once again, to answer to this emergency that is threatening human security by filling the gap of the Global Fund:

1. Provide emergency funding for the USD 5 Billion + gap faced by the Global Fund and call upon fellow G8 countries to also ensure that the funding gap is filled.

2. To ensure that this crisis will never happen again by paying the remaining USD 316 Million by calendar year 2010 and to make a new commitment in calendar year 2010 to an amount that is equal or above Japan’s fair share for funding term beyond 2010 and set a deadline for this payment.

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