The Global Fund on BBC Panorama: statement in response
Tonight on BBC Panorama, the Global Fund – one of the biggest providers of international aid to fight malaria, AIDs and tuberculosis – faces serious questions about its spending.
A leaked report shows alleged corruption – involving tens of thousands of dollars – was discovered by investigators working for the Fund. But according to the BBC, the report was subsequently ‘watered-down’.
David Hall-Matthews, Director of Publish What You Fund, said:
“This story only underlines the importance of foreign aid transparency. Taxpayers cannot feel confident about where their money is being spent until they are able to properly track it, and the full potential of aid cannot be realised until it is open and accountable.
“Only when all donors – including the Global Fund, the UK Government – and contractors make their spending fully transparent, can we follow the money and ensure that aid gets to where it is supposed to go.”
In 10 years, the Global Fund spent £13.5bn and saved millions of lives. The UK government also recently announced it was giving the Global Fund £1bn.
See how the Global Fund ranks in our Aid Transparency Index.
Response to your response – it is advisable to check the facts before responding to media butcher jobs. This comment by one of the people interviewed, Dr. David McCoy, highlights some serious problems with the Panorama butcher job: http://www.medact.org/blog/bbc-panorama-global-fund-corruption/
I hope you will provide a statement in response to that as well.