23 October, Berlin - Parliamentarians announced the creation of a global MP taskforce between donor and malaria-endemic countries to advocate for increased funding commitments for the upcoming Global Fund Replenishment. The announcement was made at an MP reception hosted by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, The Global Fund, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health and COPEMA (Coalition of Parliamentarians for the Elimination of Malaria in Africa) on the side-lines of the 2024 World Health Summit. The taskforce aims to support the Global Fund's replenishment efforts, for which an Investment Case and the funding target will be released in early 2025.
The taskforce, which will operate for one year, commencing in February 2025, has a core objective of ensuring that malaria funding is fully mobilised via the Global Fund Replenishment. Meeting quarterly to align on progress and objectives, MPs from African nations will play a critical role in encouraging their counterparts in donor countries to influence decision-makers within their governments to pledge sufficient funds towards malaria for the Global Fund Replenishment.
As it stands, the funding gap for malaria is dangerously large, growing from US $2.3 billion in 2018 to US $3.7 billion in 2022. Recent modelling statistics from the Malaria Atlas Project revealed that a cut to resources at the upcoming Global Fund Replenishment could result in an additional 137.2 million malaria cases and up to 337,000 additional deaths between 2027 and 2029.
With the malaria parasite evolving, climate change threatening vulnerable populations, and new tools costing 3-4x more than existing tools, there has never been a more critical moment for global leaders to be made aware of the urgent need for increased funding towards malaria.
Dr Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership said:
"This global taskforce of parliamentarians represents a critical step in our mission to secure the resources necessary to end malaria for good. The data tells us clearly that without increased funding in the upcoming Global Fund replenishment, we face a dangerous resurgence of malaria cases and deaths.
Members of parliament hold a unique power to influence national budgets and rally global support, and their commitment and leadership to our cause will be crucial in ensuring that we achieve a successful replenishment next year to protect the most vulnerable. We cannot afford to lose ground, and we must act now to make sure we have the right resources in place."
Honorable Peter NJUME, Co-chair of COPEMA and Unite Network Member, said:
"We have the opportunity as parliamentarians to influence our countries' budget processes to ensure a fullyfunded global fund and save millions of lives, it is our only choice and it is urgent, each day counts; We commit to work together from Africa to Europe, Asia to Americas to build a safer world for all by investing in the Global Fund in 2025."