In 2025, major donor nations significantly reduced funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, jeopardizing the right to health for millions worldwide. So far, only US$11.85 billion has been pledged for 2026–2028, far short of the US$18 billion urgently needed. All but one of the top 10 donors cut their contributions, a move Human Rights Watch warns could lead to preventable deaths. The Global Fund is a critical financier, supporting nearly two-thirds of global tuberculosis programs, over half of malaria programs, and more than a quarter of HIV programs. Since 2002, it has saved an estimated 70 million lives, with millions receiving treatment annually.
Human Rights Watch research in Indonesia, Laos, and Nepal highlights the immediate consequences of funding reductions, particularly for marginalized populations such as men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, and people who use drugs. For these communities, Global Fund-supported programs provide the only accessible route to HIV prevention, testing, counseling, and medication. Cuts to funding threaten the survival of these essential community-based services, which are tailored to overcome systemic discrimination and barriers to care.
The retreat by multiple donor nations, following the U.S.’s reductions in bilateral health aid, risks triggering a cascade effect in global health infrastructure. Key donors such as the United States, Japan, Germany, and Sweden have scaled back pledges, while France and the European Commission have yet to make concrete commitments. In contrast, some countries like India, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa increased their contributions, demonstrating the importance of sustained multilateral support.
Community-based organizations and health outreach workers report that reduced Global Fund resources will leave vulnerable populations without care. The loss of funding threatens the monitoring of programs and the delivery of life-saving services, potentially reversing decades of progress against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. Human Rights Watch emphasizes that immediate action is required from donor nations to close the funding gap and prevent millions of avoidable deaths worldwide.
