Posted on January 29, 2008

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Launches Corporate Champions Program

The Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has announced the launch of the Global Fund Corporate Champions program to encourage multinational corporations to step up their investments in the fight against the three diseases.

Each "champion," as corporate partners in the effort are called, must make a substantial commitment to global health through a financial contribution to Global Fund-supported programs in countries where the company operates, thereby significantly expanding its own workplace and community projects and investing in high-quality, rigorously monitored, and results-focused health programs. California-based Chevron, the inaugural Corporate Champion, will invest $30 million over three years in Global Fund-supported programs in parts of Asia and Africa. Chevron was selected as the first partner because of its successful community-engagement programs to combat AIDS and malaria and its award-winning HIV/AIDS workplace programs.

In addition to awarding financial contributions, corporate partners will leverage their staff and other assets to improve the effectiveness and reach of the programs they support, and must also demonstrate a long-term commitment to the fight against the diseases.

"Global companies with large, long-term investments in developing countries understand that fighting disease is a necessary part of their strategic investments," said Global Fund board chair Rajat Gupta. "The Global Fund Corporate Champion program provides the opportunity for these companies to make significant, effective, results-driven investments in national health programs….[Chevron's] long-standing dedication to combating HIV/AIDS, combined with its needs-based partnership approach to community engagement, makes [it] an ideal first Corporate Champion."