Harare, Zimbabwe, June 9, 2021- The United States government has contributed, through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), US$3.5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (the Global Fund) COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM), as part of the broader U.S. government’s global COVID-19 response and recovery strategy. The funds from the U.S. government support the Global Fund’s second phase of C19RM, which seeks to alleviate the effects of COVID-19 on the Global Fund’s AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria programs and to strengthen health and community systems.

The Global Fund has allocated US$75-150 million to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe can secure the funds through an evidence-based grant proposal to run from 2021-2022 to respond to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the impact of the pandemic in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and strengthen health and community systems. The base allocation of US$75 million amounts to 15% of Zimbabwe’s 2021-2023 Global Fund allocation. Zimbabwe can apply for an additional US$75 million, and the funds should be used by December 31, 2023.

The resources harnessed under the ARPA, with the generosity of the American people, and disbursed through the Global Fund will provide funds to countries for:

I.COVID-19 control and containment interventions, such as personal protective equipment, diagnostics, treatment, communications, and other measures as specified by the World Health Organization;
  II.         COVID-19-related risk mitigation measures for programs to fight the three diseases of AIDS, TB, and malaria; and
 III.        Strengthening of health and community systems, including support to key aspects of health systems, such as laboratory networks, supply chains, and community-led response systems.

Working closely with the government of Zimbabwe and health development partners, the C19RM funds complement existing funding sources, such as World Bank, World Health Organization, other UN Agencies, bilateral assistance, and individual USG agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The U.S. Embassy has provided over US$20M in support of the COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe.

The United States Government remains committed to working together with the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, multilateral organizations, partner governments, and civil society organizations, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health threats, for Zimbabweans to live safer, healthier, and longer lives.