Advocacy Update: Top Things to Know This Week

UK pledges £1 billion to Global Fund

On November 14, the British Government announced that it will contribute GBP 1 billion ($1.18 billion) to the Global Fund for the coming three-year period. Although the UK is the third largest donor to the Global Fund, this contribution is £400 million less from the last replenishment in 2019 and £800 million short of what the Global Fund requested from the UK government as it seeks to raise a total of $18 billion. 

G20 Ministers launch billion-dollar pandemic fund 

On November 13, health and finance ministers of the G20 countries officially launched the $1.4 billion global pandemic fund ahead of the G20 Summit taking place November 15-16. The fund had previously been referred to as the Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR FIF), but has now been officially named the Pandemic Fund. The fund is targeted at low- and middle-income countries to finance efforts such as surveillance, research, better access to vaccines, and other measures. The United States has contributed $450 million to the fund, nearly a third of the total. Follow news about the Pandemic Fund at their new handle on Twitter or on the World Bank website.

Congress returns to negotiate final spending package

Following last week’s midterm elections, lawmakers return to DC this week to continue negotiations on a final fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations package. House and Senate negotiators will need to settle on topline levels for defense and non-defense discretionary spending before the current Continuing Resolution expires on December 16.

USAID release roadmap toward maximizing newborn and child survival 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the Getting To 2030: Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Technical Roadmap, which is a framework that guides USAID’s maternal and child survival programs and partnerships alongside the Agency’s investments in family planning, malaria, and health systems strengthening. In this roadmap, child and maternal deaths are prevented as countries increase equitable coverage of quality, evidence-based interventions and sustain these gains. 

Nutrition-climate initiative launches at COP27

On November 12, the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN) launched during Adaptation and Agriculture Day at the United Nations (UN) climate conference known as COP27. The multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral initiative will be implemented with the support of UN agencies and partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and seeks to accelerate progress in both climate mitigation and adaptation and nutrition. 

COP27 Presidency launches food and agriculture initiative

On November 12, the Egyptian Presidency in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other stakeholders launched the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation Initiative (FAST). The initiative seeks to improve the quantity and quality of climate finance contributions to transform agriculture and food systems by 2030 while supporting food and economic security and the environment.

G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting delivers six critical actions for upcoming Leaders’ Summit

On October 28, the G20 Second Health Ministerial Meeting concluded in Bali, Indonesia. It produced a technical document outlining six crucial actions to be submitted for consideration during the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place November 15-16. Some of the actions include G20 members continuing and deepening the work envisioned for the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF), and committing to implement the One Health initiative among others.

ACT-Accelerator announces the launch of a six-month plan

The COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator has launched a new six-month plan that will support countries as the world transitions to long-term COVID-19 control. In particular, the ACT-Accelerator will focus on vaccinating high-risk populations, introducing new treatments, boosting testing, and securing sustained access to COVID-19 tools. 

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

• November 15 at 10:00 a.m., ET:  The Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights will convene its members for a hybrid hearing entitled, “Retooling U.S. Foreign Assistance to Alleviate the Root Causes of Instability and Conflict in Africa.”
• November 17 at 10:00 a.m., ET:  The Committee will convene its members for a hybrid hearing entitled, “Assessing the Biden Administration’s U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Advocacy Resources

KFF release new resource on the President’s Malaria Initiative and Other U.S. government global malaria efforts

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a new report highlighting U.S. malaria efforts through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and other activities. The report notes that the U.S. government has been involved in global malaria activities since the 1950s and U.S. funding for malaria control efforts and research activities was estimated at $1 billion in FY 2022, up from $812 million in FY 2012.