The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, at the initiative of Minister Antonio Tajani, will contribute EUR 150 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for the period 2026–2028. The announcement, made today on the margins of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, reaffirms Italy’s longstanding leadership in the field of global health.
Since its establishment at the 2001 Genoa G8 Summit, the Global Fund has helped save 70 million lives and reduced the combined mortality rate for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 63%. Through its inclusive governance model and co-financing mechanisms, the Fund fosters greater ownership by beneficiary countries, including by strengthening their national health systems.
The Global Fund’s approach is closely aligned with the Mattei Plan for Africa, which is based on equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships. Health is one of the Plan’s key pillars and a strategic priority of Italy’s development cooperation. Drawing on its network of national centres of excellence in the health sector, Italy will continue to involve the Italian System in the Fund’s activities. A portion of the newly announced contribution will support complementary initiatives carried out by Italian civil society organisations, public institutions and universities.
Italy’s engagement with the Global Fund is complemented by its bilateral efforts to combat communicable diseases, such as support for the DREAM Centres operated by the Community of Sant’Egidio—centres of excellence active in ten African countries and beneficiaries of significant Italian development cooperation funding in recent years.