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In 2011 private philanthropists in
the US and the European Union spent approximately US $644 million on global
HIV/AIDS programs, which was a 5 percent increase from 2010. The growth can be
attributed to a few large donors, as several other donors had actually reduced
their funding.
The US-based Funders Concerned about AIDS (FCAA) and the
European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) stated in their annual report that US funders
spent $491 million in 2011, and EU funders spent $170 million. Sarah Hamilton
of the FCAA pointed out that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a few
others are the main funders behind the growth. If those funders are removed,
there would be an overall decrease in private philanthropy for HIV/AIDS. “We
look at it as level growth; we’ve identified a few new funders, but the growth
is mild,” declared Hamilton.
An estimated 44 percent of US
funding was aimed at programs with a global focus. US funding gave $69 million
to East and Southern Africa, the most of any region outside the US, followed by
the $40 million given to South Asia and the Pacific, and the $22 million given
to East and Southeast Asia. Approximately half of all EU funding in 2011 was
aimed at projects in regions and countries outside Western and Central Europe,
and one third went to programs with a global aim. The EU spent 12 percent of
its funding in Western and Central Europe. A large part of the US funding was
directed toward research, with the top population groups being medical research
teams and projects aimed at women, men who have sex with men, and youth. The EU
funders mainly targeted women, vulnerable children, orphans, and youth
The report’s authors note that 2012
funding is forecasted to remain level. Experts are calling for greater funding,
not only from the private funders but also from western governments and
beneficiary nations. Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director for Programs at
UNAIDS, noted “We are in an era where shared responsibility for the AIDS
response is vitally important. Countries are stepping up their domestic
investments for HIV, but there is still a $7 billion gap between what is needed
and what is available.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
