By David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 31, 2003; Page A02

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson is in line to become the next chairman of the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- a move that could presage much larger U.S. contributions to the new organization.

Thompson emerged as the only candidate yesterday for the position. It will be formalized by consensus of the 18-member board, which is meeting this morning in Geneva.

President Bush's surprise proposal for a sharp boost in U.S. funding for international AIDS programs in his State of the Union address this week included $1 billion for the Global Fund and $9 billion for treatment and prevention programs in 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean over the next five years. This is to supplement $5 billion already planned for international AIDS programs.

Many advocates, however, viewed the amount earmarked for the Global Fund as woefully inadequate given its needs, estimated to be about $6 billion next year, and $8 billion a year by 2007.

"There's no automatic connection with a greater U.S. financial contribution," the fund's executive director, Richard G. A. Feachem, said of Thompson's imminent appointment. "But anything that strengthens the relationship with Washington and builds confidence with the Global Fund in the administration can only help in gaining the substantial resources we need."

Created at the urging of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, the fund is an attempt to bring unity to the effort to address three infectious diseases of poverty.

The board yesterday approved the second round of grants since the fund's inception about a year ago. In all, 160 programs in 85 countries are being financed at a cost of $1.5 billion for two years, renewable for a total of five years, and $3.7 billion depending on performance. About 60 percent of the money will go for AIDS, and 20 percent each for malaria and tuberculosis.

The fund now has pledges of $2.2 billion, with $500 million from the United States.

As chairman, Thompson would be expected to be an advocate for much greater commitment to AIDS treatment and prevention in poor countries and to raise money for the Global Fund specifically. The appointment lasts one year, with a second year possible. Nine board members are from donor countries, and nine from recipient countries. The chairmanship and the vice chairmanship alternate between the two groups of nations.

The outgoing chairman is Chrispus Kiyonga, a government minister from Uganda. The only candidate for vice chairman is Suwit Wibulpolprasert, a public health official from Thailand. AIDS advocates fear that without a greatly increased commitment from the United States, other wealthy nations are unlikely to increase their own donations, potentially leaving the fund bankrupt within a few years.

U.S. support for the Global Fund was on the minds of some people at the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, which met in Washington yesterday.

Abner A. Mason, head of the international subcommittee of the appointed body, said he was thrilled by the Bush's announcement but openly wondered "is $1 billion over five years enough" for the Global Fund.