Fund the Fund - Global

The Fund the Fund site is the central strategy for mobilising advocacy efforts. Citizens are encouraged to share information and analysis with other members or organisations working on HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. An advocacy guide is provided PDF format. It includes, among other things, a sample briefing note that can be altered to suit the needs of individual countries, a national sign-on letter, and a list of resources. Participants are also encouraged to organise town meetings, community-, faith-based and/or NGO meetings, or affinity groups to review information and strategise action. Any information gathered - either through the advocacy guide itself or through community-based events in which the guide is shared with others - should, in the words of the organisers, be shared with their colleagues and other members of civil society. This may mean photocopying the guide as a handout at meetings or conferences. Other ideas proposed on the site include creating a task force of interested organisations (through, perhaps, national or regional coalitions may be the facilitating vehicle), meeting with or writing to government officials to let them know about the importance of the Global Fund and the needed financing, as well as to advocate for specific forms of action. Use of the media - in the form of editorials or letters requesting governmental support for the Global Fund - is also encouraged. These lobbying efforts will vary from country to country.

To cite one specific example of a communication strategy included on the site, visitors to the site are encouraged to sign and send (to their local government officials) a letter that includes the following plea: "We, the undersigned, representing concerned groups and individuals including people living with HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, from rich countries and poor countries, from the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere, call on you, the leaders of the richest countries in the world, to act urgently to ensure that desperately needed programs designed to win the war on AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria get full funding from the G7. US$1.4bn is urgently needed to fund the Global Fund's third round of grant requests this year. According to equitable funding principles, at least US$793m should come from G7 countries by October 2003 and at least US$8.2bn to ensure successful rounds in 2004 and 2005. We also urge you to publicly support policies that promote access to lowest cost medicines, including quality generics, thereby ensuring that the greatest number of people gain access to medicines as a result of your contributions."

HIV/AIDS, Health.

The Global Fund is facing a budget shortfall of US$1.6 billion to meet the anticipated need in the third round of grants in October 2003. Nations contribute emergency funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria to fill the budget shortfall. According to organisers, each country's contribution should be based on that country's proportion of the world economy as measured by its gross domestic product (GDP).

In March 2003, representatives from civil society organisations met in Paris to discuss the uncertain future of the Global Fund. Representatives shared their concerns that wealthy countries are not contributing enough to the Global Fund.