Y’s Men International, together with World YMCA, is pleased to announce a new multi-stakeholder partnership to support The Global Fund to Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria during the Global Fund’s sixth replenishment conference, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron in Lyon, France from 9-10 October.
The International Council backed the initiative with a unanimous decision to join ranks with national governments and around 60 other organisations supporting The Global Fund such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, Mastercard, UN Foundation, Tata Trusts and Starbucks.
World YMCA, which reaches 64 million people in 120 countries, will coordinate global advocacy efforts, as well as support community engagement and outreach initiatives to help reduce the burden of malaria, especially with young people and the most vulnerable. DFID, the international development arm of the UK government, will provide matching funds, unlocking nearly US$1 million to fight malaria.
“Y’s Men International has been providing funding support for malaria programmes since 2009,” said Jose Varghese, Y’s Men International Secretary General. “We see this partnership as a wonderful opportunity to step up our commitment to rolling back malaria, and to help catalyse youth-led community engagement and advocacy efforts in collaboration with World YMCA. We are grateful to DFID for matching our contribution, thus exponentially increasing our collective impact.”
The Global Fund acknowledged the partnership in a tweet on Thursday.
Thank you @WorldYMCA and @YsMenIHQ for joining us to #StepUpTheFight. Together we can support young people to live healthy lives. Great support both financial and community engagement matched by @DFID to help #EndMalaria and reach the SDGs. #HealthForAll pic.twitter.com/bbA8SJQMC2
— The Global Fund (@GlobalFund) October 10, 2019
“We welcome the investment made by World YMCA and Y’s Men International to strengthen the Global Fund’s malaria programs,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Through its vast network worldwide, the YMCA will be able to mobilise more young people in the fight against malaria, bringing us closer to ending the epidemic by 2030.”
World YMCA is committed to addressing climate change, issues around mental health, and improving economic opportunities for young people. The negative impact of climate change on malaria and the effect it can have on a young person can lead to lost job opportunities and increased mental health difficulties. This partnership will help contribute to saving 16 million more lives as part of the Global Fund’s mission.
“Malaria is a global health emergency and the burden of malaria disproportionally robs young people and vulnerable communities of their potential to contribute fully to society,” said Carlos Madjri Sanvee, World YMCA Secretary General. “YMCA has a 175-year history of community engagement, delivering services and providing education on global health issues facing young people and vulnerable communities. Thanks to our friends at Y’s Men International and DFID, World YMCA will be able to mobilise young people in the fight against malaria and other global health issues.”
Image © DJ Forza