Global AIDS fund wants more private donor money
Global AIDS fund wants more private donor money
05 Mar 2007 16:22:21 GMT
Source: ReutersBy John Acher
OSLO,
March 5 (Reuters) – A global fund that combats AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria hopes to attract more money from private donors, fund officials
said on Monday.Launched in 2002 with the backing of then U.N.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria has raised $10 billion but is looking to raise
a further $15 billion in 2008-2010.So far about 96 percent of
the Fund’s money has come from governments, including the G8 countries,
but private sources, such as corporations, foundations and individuals,
should provide more in the future, they said.“We have a major
effort under way to increase private financial contributions to the
Global Fund and also private contributions of other kinds,” the Fund’s
Executive Director Richard Feachem said at the start of a two-day donor
meeting.The Fund supports 450 programmes in 136 countries.
Feachem said it was also exploring avenues for private non-financial contributions, such as donations of goods and services.
One
part of that is a “Product Red” campaign which allows consumers to give
a fraction of their monthly mobile phone bill, a percentage of a
special red American Express card bill or proceeds from goods such as a
red Armani watch to the Fund.He said it had raised over $20 million and was growing fast.
Chairwoman
Carol Jacobs said the Fund did not have a target for funding from
private donors, but added: “Between 10 and 20 percent — I do not think
would be unreasonable.”By far the biggest private contribution
so far is $650 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, set
up by the Microsoft founder, Feachem said.About $250 million of that pledge has been paid so far.
About
35 of the Fund’s 50 donor governments were expected to attend the Oslo
meeting, but pledges were not expected until a conference in Berlin in
September.
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