OTTAWA — Canada has announced a commitment of just over $1 billion to the Global Fund over the next three years. This funding aims to combat infectious diseases in some of the world’s poorest countries. The announcement was made by Cindy Termorshuizen, who is Prime Minister Mark Carney’s personal representative at the G20 summit in South Africa. She shared the news in Johannesburg ahead of Carney's arrival at the summit.

The Global Fund focuses on fighting diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Canada has been a supporter of the fund since its establishment in 2002. The fund's initiatives include distributing mosquito nets to protect communities from malaria and providing essential medications and treatments for individuals living with HIV and tuberculosis.

This new contribution is $190 million less than Canada’s previous commitment of $1.21 billion, which was announced in 2022. That earlier pledge represented a 30 percent increase in funding at the time. Justin McAuley, communications director at The ONE Campaign, criticized the latest announcement, calling it “a sharp break” from previous increases in Canadian support. He stated, “This cut signals a retreat just as the path to an AIDS-free generation is in sight. It is the wrong move at the wrong time.”

The Global Fund’s eighth replenishment summit is being held concurrently with the annual G20 summit in Johannesburg. Carney is traveling to South Africa after meetings with leaders in the United Arab Emirates, where he secured a promise of $70 billion in investments in Canadian businesses. Canada’s latest pledge to the Global Fund is set to extend from 2027 to 2029.