A partnership to unlock Africa’s full potential

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We live in a fast-paced and interconnected world, where breakthrough technologies, political transformations and health challenges have far-reaching societal and economic consequences. Today, more than ever before, by sharing new insights and experiences and working across the public private sphere, we have the potential to dramatically improve and save millions of lives.Dr. Susan Mboya (President, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation), Lerato Mbele (BBC journalist and broadcaster), Antonello Barbaro (Manager of Private Sector Partnerships at Global Fund), Sola David-Borha (CE of Standard Bank Africa Regions)

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income, to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change.

As highlighted by SDG 17, a successful sustainable development agenda calls for partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships, built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level.

The Global Fund is such a public private partnership that works to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics, saving over 20 million lives since its creation in 2002. This has been achieved through collective effort – a combination of strong contributions made by governments, civil society and the private sector.

As a key investor in Africa and African health systems, the Global Fund is maximising its impact in the fight against the diseases through private sector engagement, working to identify complex global health challenges and tapping into the wealth of expertise and resources across the private sector, to translate ideas into solutions that deliver tangible results on the ground.

From leveraging Standard Bank’s financial expertise and resources to transform African communities and employees in the vital fight against the three epidemics, to applying Coca-Cola’s supply chain and marketing expertise to improve the availability of life saving drugs throughout the continent - the Global Fund is working with a broad range of strategic partners to strengthen efficiency and maximize impact.

Impact that, in turn, has a significant return on investment in terms of economic development. In addition to saving lives and empowering communities, the Global Fund estimates that every USD$100 million in investment through the Global Fund could spark an estimated USD$300 million in domestic resources and USD$2.2 billion in long-term economic gains, globally. Thereby, creating a virtuous cycle that unlocks the full economic potential of the countries in which it operates.

Read more about Standard Bank Group’s sustainability strategy.