The World Bank Group and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help developing countries strengthen health systems and secure sustainable financing for primary healthcare and the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria. Over the next three years, the two organizations plan to mobilize at least US$2 billion in joint financing, aligned with country priorities, to expand access to essential health services and reinforce primary healthcare.
This partnership supports the World Bank Group’s goal of providing quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030 and advances the Global Fund’s mission to end HIV, TB, and malaria while strengthening health systems globally. Since announcing its target in April 2024, the World Bank Group and partners have helped 375 million additional people access quality care, and ongoing efforts aim to scale proven primary care approaches that improve health outcomes and generate employment across health workforces, supply chains, and supporting industries.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga emphasized that healthy populations drive economic growth, noting that this partnership aligns efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems that create jobs, support long-term resilience, and improve the overall health sector. Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands highlighted that sustained investment, smart financing, and strong partnerships are essential to scaling health system improvements, and that combining the Global Fund’s field expertise with the World Bank’s sustainable financing leadership will unlock the resources and innovations needed for long-term health and development outcomes.
The World Bank Group and the Global Fund have collaborated since 2017 through joint investments, and the new MoU will deepen these efforts while better aligning external financing with government-led health priorities. National country compacts—government-led agreements—will coordinate partners around shared health priorities, financing needs, and accountability frameworks.
The MoU focuses on three key areas: expanding affordable health services, ensuring sustainable financing, and improving reliable access to quality-assured health products. The partnership will help governments strengthen public financial management and integrated primary healthcare, align external funding with national health plans, and enhance procurement systems, supply chains, and regional manufacturing. It will also support stronger health systems and health security by building workforce capacity, improving data and surveillance systems, upgrading laboratories, and ensuring delivery of essential services across HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and child health programs.
