UK CSOs respond to The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Results Report 2025

Members of the UK Civil Society Working Group on the Global Fund Replenishment are urging the UK government to honour its responsibility to global health by, at a minimum, maintaining its previous pledge of £1 billion at the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment this year.

The 2025 Global Fund Results Report, issued today, highlights why a successful 8th replenishment (co- hosted by the UK and South Africa) is critical. The Global Fund partnership has saved 70 million
lives since its inception in 2002. In 2024, the number of people on antiretroviral therapy for HIV rose to 25.6 million, 7.4 million people were treated for tuberculosis, and 162 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed to fight malaria in countries where the Global Fund invests. Life expectancy in 15 sub-Saharan African countries has also increased – from 49 to 61 years – with more than half of that gain attributed to progress against AIDS, TB, and malaria.

Mike Podmore, CEO of STOPAIDS, said: “With the devastating impacts of cuts to overseas aid being felt around the world, the UK government now faces a critical decision for global health. Investing in the Global Fund partnership is one of the most effective ways that the UK can save lives and tackle global health threats.

“The UK has stepped up to co-host the Global Fund’s replenishment conference with South Africa. The world is now watching.

“A weak commitment would reverse decades of progress, resulting in millions of preventable deaths, especially among children and vulnerable populations.

“A strong UK backing to the Global Fund will unlock new, game-changing innovations for ending AIDS. It will build strong health systems that protect against future pandemics and reduce long-term dependency on aid. It will send a clear message: that we will not turn away.”

Adrian Lovett, Executive Director for the UK, Middle East and Asia Pacific at the ONE Campaign, said: “The Global Fund is one of the greatest success stories in global health, having saved 70 million lives since 2002.

“Our analysis shows that a 20% cut to the UK’s contribution could cost nearly 340,000 lives – more than the total number of UK Covid deaths, and more than ten times the number of people killed in London during the Blitz. It would also give other G7 countries cover to scale back their own pledges, multiplying the human cost many times over and putting Britain itself at greater risk from infectious diseases and pandemics.

“As co-host of the upcoming replenishment summit, the UK now has a pivotal opportunity to play its full part on the world stage. With a new Foreign Secretary in post, this is a moment to send a clear

signal that Britain is serious about global health and determined to do its part. That means matching its previous £1 billion promise in full.

“In times like these, leadership matters. The UK must step up.”

Alex Kent, co-CEO of Restless Development, said: “The Global Fund continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the health and futures of young people across the globe. Yet without full replenishment, those gains are at serious risk. Young people in the UK are calling for action, polling by Restless Development shows that 80% of 16-24 year olds think it is important that the UK invests in global health, even when there are challenges at home. Let’s listen to young brits and commit

to maintain the UK’s previous replenishment contribution.”

John Plastow, Executive Director, Frontline AIDS, said: “The 2025 Results Report is a testament to the vital contribution the Global Fund partnership makes to global health, with 70 million lives saved since 2002, as a result of strengthened health and community systems worldwide that serve many of the poorest and most marginalised people on our planet. At a time when the robustness of these systems feels under threat, Frontline AIDS, which is one of the largest global civil society partnerships engaged with the Global Fund, calls on the UK government to provide continued leadership and investment to make the 8th replenishment a success. Together we must ensure that hard-won progress on HIV is not frittered away and that we continue to invest in community-led action to ensure we really can end AIDS for everyone, everywhere.”

Katie Husselby, Director, Action for Global Health, said: “Sustaining the UK’s investment in the Global Fund – alongside vital initiatives such as Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) – is a lifeline for people’s health everywhere. These commitments don’t just fund programmes – they save lives, strengthen health systems, lift families out of poverty, reduce inequalities, and protect communities from the threat of future pandemics. At a time when hard-won progress hangs in the balance, this is a crucial moment for the UK to demonstrate global solidarity. The dangers posed by disease won’t wait. Every moment without action means more people at risk.”

Gareth Jenkins, Executive Director of Advocacy and Strategy at Malaria No More UK, said: “Despite progress in the past two decades, this report again sounds the alarm that a full malaria resurgence looms due to a perfect storm of extreme weather events, humanitarian crises and funding shortfalls.

“But the briefing also demonstrates the positive dramatic impact of the Global Fund in providing tools like insecticide-treated mosquito nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention, primarily for children in sub-Saharan Africa.

“This is why it truly is a matter of life or death that world leaders back the Global Fund at its forthcoming budget replenishment; failing to do so will only increase the chances of unleashing one of the greatest surges in malaria that we’ve seen on record.”