Home > News & Policies > July 2001

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 20, 2001

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Fact Sheet
U.S. Leadership on Global Fund to Fight Hiv/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis
"the Devastation Across the Globe Left by Aids, Malaria, and Tuberculosis,
the Sheer Number of Those Infected and Dying Is Almost Beyond
Comprehension. We Have the Power to Help. the United States Is Committed
to Working with Other Nations to Reduce Suffering and to Spare Lives."
--President George W. Bush
May 11, 2001
?i Believe Today Will Be Remembered as the Day We Begin to Turn the Tide.?
--Un Secretary-General Kofi Annan
May 11, 2001
the Tragedy of Hiv/Aids and Infectious Diseases
Collectively, Hiv/Aids,
Malaria, and Tuberculosis Are Ravaging Developing Countries, Causing 25
Percent of All Deaths in These Nations Worldwide

Today, I call on all multilateral banks to increase the share of their funding devoted to education, and to tie support more directly to clear and measurable results...I also propose the World Bank and other development banks dramatically increase the share of their funding provided as grants, rather than loans, to the poorest countries... My proposal today doesnt merely drop the debt -- it helps stop the debt. President George W. Bush July 17, 2001 The World Bank and other regional development banks have an important role in promoting economic growth and poverty alleviation in the poorest countries. The United States has called on these institutions to refocus their mission on raising living standards in developing nations by increasing productivity growth. More Resources for Education: Education is a critical driver of productivity growth. However, too many children in too many poor countries are not being educated. ' In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 40% of primary school age students do not even go to school. ' Many of the children who go to school are not getting basic verbal and quantitative skills. ' Only about 7% of the World Banks resources are devoted to education. The President proposed today a substantial increase in World Bank resources for education - tied to clear, measurable results. Increasing Grants to Stop the Debt: In order to stop increasing the debt of the poorest and least creditworthy countries, the President has proposed that the World Bank provide up to 50% of its assistance to the poorest countries in the form of grants, rather than loans: ' Dramatically increasing grants to the poorest countries, especially for such urgent priorities as education, health care, and clean water, makes more financial sense than burdening these countries with loans that cannot be repaid. ' Last year, the World Bank lent about $4 billion a year to the poorest countries, of which $700 million was dedicated to social sector projects. The Presidents proposal would increase that amount significantly. Todays Financial Times reports that Jubilee Plus, a successor organization to the debt relief campaign Jubilee 2000 is backing the Bush project in its entirety.

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