AHF Lauds Sweden for Upping Contribution to Global Fund, Calls for Increased US Funding

October 20, 2011

Despite recent criticism of the management of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and calls for reform, the government of Sweden announced that it will disburse a contribution of SEK 600 million ($90.5 million USD) to the Fund within the next month. Sweden will make a total pledge of SEK 2 billion ($300 million) for the period 2011–13-- representing an increase to its previously pledged contribution despite concerns about the stewardship of Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Fund, and the mid-September release of a critical report of the ‘High-Level Independent Review Panel on Fiduciary Controls and Oversight Mechanisms of the Global Fund,’ which detailed many current shortcomings in the Fund’s monetary and program management and suggested numerous reforms to allow it to ‘sustain its important role’ in improving global health.