ADB, Global Fund Sign MOU to Help Countries in Asia Strengthen Health Systems to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the financing, design, and implementation of country-led programs to fight HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and build resilient health systems in ADB member countries eligible for Global Fund financing.

Through a framework of mutual cooperation, ADB and the Global Fund can complement each other's contributions to health programs in the Asia and Pacific region.

The Global Fund and ADB are building on 5 years of collaboration through the Regional Malaria and Communicable Diseases Threats Trust Fund, said Diwakar Gupta, ADB Vice-President for Private Sector and Cofinancing Operations. The Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, for example, is working closely with Global Fund partners to improve supply chain, financial management, and program quality related to malaria. In addition to supporting the malaria elimination goal, we are working together to build attractive financing mechanisms for health system strengthening in ADB member countries.

In countries transitioning from Global Fund grants, ADB can support a gradual shift to other funding sources, especially increased domestic financing.

The agreement exemplifies the Global Fund's commitment to strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks, said Marijke Wijnroks, Interim Executive Director of the Global Fund. Development finance institutions like ADB can augment the impact and footprint of Global Fund grants by leveraging additional investment, building financial sustainability, and reinforcing transparency.

For the period 2017-2020, the Global Fund has allocated over $2 billion to countries in Asia and the Pacific. ADB's Strategy 2020 is committed to expanding health sector investments to 3%-5% of the bank's total operations, equaling $1 billion of investment in health by 2020.

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