UK’s Reduced Global Fund Pledge Undermines Youth Futures and Global Health Security
Restless Development, the youth-led development agency, expresses deep disappointment and alarm at the UK Government’s pledge of £850 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria replenishment cycle. This sum represents a significant reduction, making the UK the first host country of the replenishment to ever decrease its pledge to the Global Fund.
Although we acknowledge the prevailing domestic pressures on the UK’s Official Development Assistance budget and the life-saving potential of the UK’s commitment, the 15% reduction in the Global Fund pledge is a substantial step back. This cut fails to meet the current realities of global health, risks young people’s lives globally, and cements a worrying trend of retreat from global health leadership.
This decision is a direct blow to the futures of young people worldwide. Alarmingly, these funding cuts compromise vital community-led initiatives that deliver essential prevention and treatment services, including access to HIV self-testing and cutting-edge options like PrEP for young key populations. This withdrawal of support is catastrophic given the current epidemic landscape: adolescent girls (15–19) already account for more than two-thirds (71%) of all new HIV infections among adolescents globally. By undermining this critical, life-saving work, the UK’s decision is massively disappointing, leaving millions of vulnerable young women without the support needed to survive and thrive.
Furthermore, the UK Government’s decision to cut its commitment is in direct contradiction to the will of young voters in the UK:
“The message from young people in the UK is clear: they reject this decision. Our polling, carried out by More in Common, shows a resounding 80% of young Britons (aged 16–24) believe it is important for the UK to invest in global health, even when there are challenges at home. The Government is demonstrably failing to listen to the future generation of UK voters who clearly understand that global health security is intrinsically linked to the lives and well-being of people in the UK.” – Alex Kent, Restless development co-CEO
Restless Development calls on the UK Government to demonstrate immediate accountability and reassert its commitment to global health.
- We urge the Prime Minister to personally attend the upcoming Global Fund replenishment summit to demonstrate the UK’s commitment at the highest level and rally other donors.
- We demand the urgent public release of the Government’s assessment detailing the projected in-country impact of this funding cut on the Global Fund’s operations, with a specific focus on the consequences for young people and future generations.
* Full breakdown of More in Common Polling
