Germany is committing €1 billion ($1.16 billion) over the next three years to support the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan announced on Sunday at the start of a World Health Summit in Berlin.
“With this, we are sending an important signal: Germany will continue to engage in protecting people worldwide from diseases,” Alabali-Radovan said, confirming the country’s 2026–2028 financing support for the Global Fund.
Alabali-Radovan said this commitment was achieved despite painful budget cuts and significant financial pressures within the ministry.
Combating major infectious diseases is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a matter of common sense, as pathogens know no borders, she said.
“Every euro invested in the fund pays off. It strengthens the health systems of partner countries and makes the world more resilient. This way, we save millions of lives,” she said.
Founded in 2002, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the largest multilateral grant provider in the health sector for low-income countries. It is funded by governments, foundations and private donors.
The German aid organization Deutsche Aidshilfe criticized that the €1 billion sum is €300 million lower than in the current financing period from 2023 to 2025, but said it was positive that an even bigger cut had been avoided.
Praise for the German government came from Bill Gates, whose foundation works to reduce global inequalities. Germany’s commitment will make a decisive contribution to saving millions of lives and putting the world back on a path of progress, the Microsoft co-founder told the Tagesspiegel newspaper.
Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2 and co-founder of the aid organization ONE, told the Berlin newspaper that Germany’s development minister had shown “real leadership.” The musician also thanked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his support.
According to the German Development Ministry, the goal of the current funding round is to save more than 23 million additional lives.
Germany’s pledge includes €100 million in debt swaps. The World Health Summit was set to formally open in Berlin on Sunday evening.
