A doctor./PHOTO; Pexel
The World Bank Group and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at helping developing countries build stronger, more resilient health systems and expand sustainable financing for primary healthcare and major infectious diseases.
Announced jointly in Washington, D.C. and Geneva on 6 December 2025, the partnership commits the two institutions to mobilizing at least US$2 billion over the next three years in joint financing. The funding will be aligned with country-led priorities to reinforce primary healthcare and expand essential services across HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria programmes.
The agreement underscores a renewed effort to accelerate progress toward the World Bank Group’s goal of supporting countries to provide quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030, while advancing the Global Fund’s mission to end HIV, TB, and malaria and strengthen health systems worldwide.
Scaling Proven Primary Healthcare Approaches
Since declaring its global health target in April 2024, the World Bank Group, working with partners, has helped countries reach 375 million additional people with affordable, quality care.
Work is now intensifying to scale primary care models that are already delivering measurable health gains while supporting job creation across health workforces, local supply chains, and related industries.
“Healthy people fuel thriving economies,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.
“Through this partnership with the Global Fund, we’re aligning efforts for greater impact, helping countries strengthen primary healthcare systems that create jobs, drive growth, and build long-term resilience across the health sector.”
The collaboration deepens a working relationship that began in 2017, through which both institutions have supported countries via joint financing to strengthen health delivery and expand disease-specific interventions.
A “True Partnership” to Advance Sustainable Health Systems
Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands emphasized the importance of long-term investment and coordinated action.
“Strengthening health systems at scale requires sustained investment, smart financing, and true partnership,” he said.
“This renewed partnership combines the Global Fund’s expertise in delivering impact on the ground with the World Bank Group’s leadership in sustainable financing. Working hand-in-hand with countries, we can unlock the resources, capabilities, and innovations needed to protect people’s health and drive long-term development.”
A central component of the new MoU will be national country compacts, government-led agreements that align partners around shared health priorities, financing requirements, and clear accountability frameworks.
These compacts aim to reduce fragmentation in global health financing and create a more coherent path toward long-term, government-led system strengthening.
Cooperation Across Three Key Areas
The MoU outlines deeper collaboration across three core areas without listing them numerically.
The first area of cooperation focuses on helping governments strengthen sustainable financing, improve public financial management, and advance integrated primary healthcare services.
This includes aligning external funding with national health plans to ensure impact is sustained well beyond individual project cycles.
Another area centers on improving procurement systems and reinforcing supply chain resilience, while also expanding regional manufacturing capacity.
The two organizations aim to increase access to quality-assured health products and strengthen regulatory systems so countries can rely on consistent, affordable supplies.
The third area of collaboration supports stronger health systems and improved health security.
This involves reinforcing health workforce capacity, modernizing surveillance and data systems, upgrading laboratories, and improving the delivery of essential services across HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal and child health.
By formalizing this strategic partnership, the World Bank Group and the Global Fund aim to accelerate progress in countries with the greatest health needs, while supporting long-term, sustainable pathways to stronger health systems and improved population health outcomes.
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