More Than Anyone Dreamed Possible

Imagine countries from around the world working together to eradicate diseases that kill millions of people every year.  Diseases like AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which kill more than 4 million people each year.  It sounds impossible.  It sounds like a dream.  Well, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had such a dream at the turn of the millennium and by 2002, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria was established as a private foundation hosted by the World Health Organization.

This Fund works with a different paradigm than most paternalistic aid organizations.  It relies on the four principles of partnership, country ownership, performance-based funding and transparency.  The Fund raises money from governments, the private sector and citizens.  Roughly $4 billion (USD) is raised each year. 

The Global Fund uses these funds to empower local organizations in the countries most in need to do the work of prevention, treatment, care and strengthening health systems.  The projects are “informed by the specific needs and characteristics of each country, as well as the divergent needs of communities most affected by diseases.” (The Global Fund website )

The local organizations and governments work in partnership with the funding partners.  In the past, funding organizations working in a hierarchical paradigm decided what people needed and how it would be delivered.  This led to inappropriate and unhelpful “aid” in many cases as those making the decisions didn’t fully understand the local situation.  Working in this new paradigm of partnership, the help is more productive and stable and the money is put to better use.  The Fund has had to adjust how it works to maintain it’s principles of transparency and performance-based funding. “Partnership means continual growth, driven by mutual respect, shared responsibility and a strong commitment by all,” states the global fund website.

Over it’s fourteen year history, the death rates in countries in which The Global Fund invests have decreased by 40% for AIDS, 31% for Tuberculosis and 50% for Malaria.  Hundreds of millions of mosquito nets have been distributed.  By the end of 2016, the Global Fund will be responsible for helping to save the lives of 22 million people.  This work can only have been done to this extent because of the model of partnership that is being used.  That is the only way to tackle such huge issues and achieve such a bold goal.

“We have the knowledge and tools to end AIDS, TB, and malaria as epidemics by 2030, but we need to invest smartly and with focus to make it happen. When we work together, we can achieve more than anyone dreamed possible,” writes Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

CBC photo

And it all came to land in Canada last month.  The Fifth Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund was held in Montreal.  $12.9 billion (USD) was pledged at the conference by governments, philanthropists and corporations.  And then Global Citizen hosted its first ever concert to raise awareness about the work of The Global Fund and to celebrate the work that has been done so far. It is hard to imagine the 22 million people who are still alive because of this work, not to speak of all those who love them; their parents, siblings, partners and friends. But all together the people whose lives have been changed for the better would exceed the population of Canada.  That is amazing when you think about it.  This is a good story that may well have a unbelievable ending.

Bill Gates and U2's Bono at the conference

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the concert and announced Canada’s commitment to the Global Fund of $804 million dollars over the next 3 years. So far Canada has contributed $2 billion(USD) since 2002.   Nelson Mandela’s grandson Kweku Mandela and Bill Gates spoke as well.  Many world class musicians created the concert. Usher repeatedly shouted out to the audience of thousands, “Who’s a Global Citizen here?”  Cheers erupted over and over again.  

Now that’s something to think about – being a global citizen.  If you're Canadian or a member of another contributing country, then you are already a global citizen contributing to the health and well being of millions.  You are a part of this new story. Listen to this young Canadian poet reflect on what that means here.