Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Mr. Secretary General,

Norway is firmly committed to the cause of human and social development and to achieving the MDGs by 2015.

Norway has more than doubled its budget for development co-operation since 2000. Over the same years, we have tripled our contributions to global health issues. In the state budget for 2011, presented in Oslo this morning, we are again exceeding our own target of 1 % of GNI (Gross National Income) allocated to ODA purposes. We call for other countries to follow and increase their allocations to development co-operation. The current financial crisis should not be allowed to weaken our common resolve.

Simultaneously, we call upon recipient countries to take adequate leadership and to increase their own national investments in social sectors including health. Only together, donors and recipient countries can achieve the noble goals we jointly committed to a decade ago in this city.

The Global Fund has been able to raise financial resources but has also been instrumental in creating political momentum and to create innovative public-private partnerships.

Mr. Secretary General,

The world has changed since we first designed the Global Fund and GAVI. Now we need to work even smarter.  The historic launch of the UN Secretary General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health last week is a welcome development.  New directions in international cooperation including increased commitments and responsibilities from partner countries - key to sustainability and state-building -, the UN and civil society were outlined. For the first time we see a multipronged effort by the private sector to connect the poorest billion people to the global economy.

Fund procedures continue to require heavy investment. Therefore, we strongly believe that the growth of the Fund must be accompanied by concerted and vigorous reform efforts to reduce transaction costs and increase efficiencies. In this regard we support the proposal from the US Government.

The Fund should remain a financing instrument, with a clear role that respects country leadership and ownership and enables the normative mandates of the UN and ensures an effective division of labour. More attention needs to be given to the role and operations of the Global Fund at country level. 

We are encouraged by the contributions of the Global Fund in financing programs that also improve maternal and child health, and in optimizing synergies between MDG 6 and maternal and child health. In this context, we also need to consider the AU Summit recommendation that the Fund engages in maternal, neonatal and child health, and undertake a critical analysis of whether and in case how the Fund can deliver effectively in this area.

We also welcome the Fund’s commitment to work with GAVI and the World Bank, in collaboration with WHO, to consolidate country support for health systems through the Health Systems Funding Platform for MDGs 4, 5 and 6 outcomes.

Mr. Secretary General,

I am pleased to announce that Norway will increase its annual contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by USD 12.5 million (NOK 75 million), making the total Norwegian contribution USD 75 million (NOK 450 million) per year. This is equivalent to an increase of 20%. To further enhance predictability and sustainability, we are also committed to a multi year pledge which means that Norway will donate more than USD 230 million (almost NOK 1.4 billion) to the Fund over the next three years.

Thank you very much for your attention.