On July 21, 2022, members of the FGFJ Diet Task Force met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to submit a letter requesting Japan’s contribution to the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment.
Present at the meeting was Ichiro Aisawa (FGFJ Co-Chair and Chair of Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship League), Keizo Takemi (former State Minister of Health, Chair of the LDP Global Health Special Committee, and Japan Center for International Exchange Senior Fellow), Keisuke Suzuki (former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, LDP), Hitoshi Kikawada (State Minister of the Cabinet Office, LDP), Noriko Furuya (Chair of Komeito Global Health Promotion Committee), and Masaaki Taniai (Vice chair of Komeito Global Health Promotion Committee).
Japan has played a significant role in global health for decades, and the Global Fund itself was established after Japan led discussion recognizing infectious diseases as a threat to human security at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit in 2000. The FGFJ Diet Task Force members recognized Japan’s achievements in their letter, and asked the Japanese government to continue their support in this time of unprecedented need.
Over its 20-year history, the Global Fund has saved an estimated 44 million lives, seeing deaths caused by AIDS, TB, and malaria reduced by nearly half. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, prevention, testing, and treatment of HIV, TB and malaria have stalled. Deaths from TB and malaria, which had been declining steadily every year, exceeded that of the previous year for the first time in 2020. In order to get back on track towards achieving the SDGs by 2030, the Global Fund is aiming to raise US$18 billion, a 30% increase from the previous Sixth Replenishment.
In light of the above, the FGFJ Diet Task Force members requested the following from the Japanese government:
- At the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), Japan should announce its pledge of US$1.1 billion for the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment, a 30% increase from the pledged amount at the previous replenishment. Considering that 70% of the Global Fund’s support goes to Africa and, TICAD 8 in August, prior to the Replenishment meeting in September, would be the most opportune time for Japan to make the announcement. Given the importance of Japan’s partnership with the United States, Japan’s earlier pledge ahead of the Replenishment meeting would also help build momentum towards a successful Replenishment led by the United States.
- In making the contribution, the government should consider the matter as a whole, beyond the scope of ministries and agencies. In particular, we request that both the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which represents the Japanese government on the Global Fund Board, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which serves as the alternate Global Fund Board member, secure budgetary resources.
- The Japanese government should work as one to further support and encourage various Japanese entities of public and private sector, including industry, academia, and civil society, to be more actively involved in the Global Fund’s decision-making and organizational management, as well as in the implementation, coordination, procurement, and evaluation of programs at the country level.
Following submission of the letter to Prime Minister Kishida, Ichiro Aisawa, Keizo Tekemi, and Hitoshi Kikawada met with Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on July 28 to further discuss the contents of the letter as well as explain the Global Fund’s contributions not only to fighting AIDS, TB, and malaria, but also to strengthening health systems, which is key to preventing and preparing for future pandemics. Minister Hayashi stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of the FGFJ Diet Task Force and related parties, will continue its efforts in global health and seriously consider Japan’s contribution to the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment.
