EFG & FCAA release reports on philanthropic efforts to address the global AIDS epidemic
New reports find funding decreasing or remaining flat among most philanthropic HIV/AIDS funders since 2006
November 17, 2009, the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) and Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) have released new reports on funding from European and U.S. philanthropies to HIV/AIDS in 2008. The reports intend to inform stakeholders about the overall distribution and trends of European and U.S. HIV/AIDS philanthropic funding, facilitate greater co-ordination and transparency among funders, and encourage expanded philanthropic support for HIV/AIDS work.
Total HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy by European-based funders tracked in the EFG report amounted to €91 million ($134 million) in 2008, while total HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy by U.S.-based funders tracked in the FCAA report amounted to $618 million.
Total HIV/AIDS funding by European-based philanthropies was slightly lower in 2008 compared with 2007 by approximately €1.7 million (1%), and total funding has decreased by approximately €5 million (7%) since 2006. Among U.S.-based funders, total HIV/AIDS philanthropy has increased in 2008 over 2007 by approximately $63 million (11%), but this is only due to an increase in funding by the world's largest private foundation engaged in HIV/AIDS work, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Without funding from the Gates Foundation, estimated expenditures by U.S.-based philanthropies remained flat from 2006 to 2007 and decreased slightly (by approximately 3%) from 2007 to 2008.
OTHER KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORTS INCLUDE:
- In both Europe and the U.S., HIV/AIDS-related philanthropic funding remained concentrated among a relatively small number of funders in 2008.
In Europe, the top 10 funders (ranked by expenditure) accounted for 84% of all HIV/AIDS-related expenditures, while in the U.S., the top ten accounted for 82% of all expenditures.
- The majority of funding by both European-based and U.S.-based philanthropies in 2008 was directed to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic outside of these regions (63% of all European HIV/AIDS philanthropic expenditures, and 84% of all U.S. expenditures).
- The Western and Central Europe region and the Eastern and Southern Africa region each received 34% of all HIV/AIDS funding by European-based philanthropies. The Eastern and Southern Africa region received 36% of all international HIV/AIDS funding by U.S.-based philanthropies.
- The top three intended use categories for HIV/AIDS funding by both European-based and U.S.-based philanthropies for international funding were research, treatment, and prevention. The top three categories for U.S. domestic funding by U.S.-based philanthropies were prevention, social services, and treatment.
- The top three target populations for HIV/AIDS funding from European-based philanthropies were, in rank order: people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, and women.
- The top three target populations for international HIV/AIDS funding from U.S.-based philanthropies were, in rank order: people living with HIV/AIDS, women, and youth. The top three target populations for U.S. domestic funding were: people living with HIV/AIDS, African Americans, and gay and bisexual men (MSM).
- Projections by European-based funders for 2009 suggest that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy funding levels may increase, with 60% of funders forecasting anticipated increases for 2009. Among U.S.-based funders however, projections suggest that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy levels will decrease, with 42% of funders forecasting anticipated decreases for 2009, and only 15% of funders expected their funding to increase in 2009.
EFG and FCAA commend the vital and momentous work of HIV/AIDS funders in 2008. Both organisations express concerns, however, about the slight decrease in total funding among European funders and U.S. funders other than the Gates Foundation since 2006. While the recent global economic crisis has meant that increasing or even maintaining a stable level of HIV/AIDS financing through 2008 has been a challenge for some funders, the needs of individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS have not levelled off since 2006; they continue to grow. The economic downturn has exacerbated the situation as it disproportionately impacts poorer countries, home to the vast majority of the tens of millions of people affected by HIV.
Current economic and epidemiological realities demand greater resources for HIV/AIDS, not acceptance of stable levels, and more effective uses of the resources at hand. Both EFG and FCAA emphasise that philanthropy has a critical role to play in fighting HIV/AIDS on the basis of flexibility, ability to innovate and take risks, and political independence.
"Private philanthropic funders have a unique opportunity to fund populations and issues that governments and other donors are reluctant to prioritise because they are too specific or controversial-such as advocacy activities that support the rights of people living with HIV and marginalised communities, or prevention strategies that include harm reduction," said John Barnes, Interim Executive Director of FCAA. "These are the programmes that are more vulnerable to public budget cuts because they have less political support."
"Funders should be creative and committed in their efforts to increase HIV/AIDS funding and to sharpen the focus and impact of their existing HIV/AIDS programmes," said Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and EFG Chair, "to sustain the momentum made and ensure support to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, even in tougher financial times."
EFG Media Contact: Erika Baehr, Consultant, Phone: +1 (617) 987-0095, E-mail: erikabaehr@gmail.com
FCAA Media Contact: Sarah Hamilton, Development & Communications Manager, Phone: +1 (718) 875-0251 x205, E-mail: sarah@fcaaids.org
About EFG
The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) is a knowledge-based network dedicated to strengthening European philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS. The group aims to mobilise philanthropic leadership and resources to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences and to promote an enabling environment for strategic, creative and independent giving in this field.
About FCAA
Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) was founded 22 years ago with the goal of mobilising philanthropic leadership, ideas and resources, domestically and internationally, to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences. FCAA is the only U.S.-based organization comprised of and for private philanthropic institutions engaged in the response to HIV/AIDS.
To download the complete reports:
- "European Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2008" at www.hivaidsfunders.org
- "U.S. Philanthropic Support to Address HIV/AIDS in 2008" at www.fcaaids.org
17/11/2009
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