Additional Context: In February 2026, the U.S. government released partial annual data for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. The Center for Global Development analyzed the data as available at the time but cautioned that the dataset likely contains reporting errors and underreporting. Because the analysis relies on aggregated indicators, it may also miss important shifts in how services were delivered on the ground over the past year.

According to CGD's analysis of the data, this decline represented 3.7 million people receiving coverage. The most significant decline was in South Africa (2.9 million), while Zambia, Lesotho, and Mozambique saw coverage drop by more than 100,000 before rebounding.

Devex Researcher Note: Though funding was initially frozen in early 2025, many of the "lifesaving" PEPFAR programs rebounded globally while other non-medical but vital support services ended for good. The confusion and disruptions of the initial funding freeze have led to mistrust, misinformation, and harmful coping strategies. Without the auxiliary programs that once were prevalent, reaching those most marginalized will continue to be difficult.

Source: CGD