In 2010, France was the 2nd largest European donor to global health after the UK, with US$1.1 billion (€806 million) or 7.4% of French total gross ODA. Channeling 60% (US$685 million, or €502 million) of health ODA multilaterally in 2010, France was well above the average of OECD DAC donor countries (34%). In its spending on health, France places a special focus on achieving the health MDGs, particularly MDG 6 (fighting communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria). Other priority areas include maternal and child health, and health systems.

At the 2010 G8 Summit, former President Sarkozy committed an additional €500 million (US$662.3 million) between 2011 and 2015 to finance maternal and child health interventions through grants, as part of the G8 Muskoka Initiative. In 2012, approximately 50% of the annual €100 million (US$139 million) were channeled through AFD for bilateral project grants (with a focus on the 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Haiti, and Afghanistan), the other half was channeled multilaterally through the Global Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, and the GAVI Alliance. While US$36 million of France’s US$146 million pledge for core contributions to GAVI were paid in 2011, it is envisaged that the annual contribution will be maintained at US$7.7 million between 2012 and 2015.

More information on: Bilateral and multilateral funding for health

More information on: Strategic frameworks and current portfolio