This section provides brief answers to questions that you may have about the Leading Group. Click on the links in the answers for more detailed explanations.

What is the Leading Group?

The Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development is a body that brings together 60 countries, various international institutions and non-governmental organisations. It is aimed at promoting discussions and actions about setting up innovative development financing mechanisms.

Who are the members of the Leading Group?

There are now 60 country members of the Leading Group, 18 international organisations and over 20 NGOs.

How is it organised?

The Presidency of the Leading Group rotates every six months. At present, Japan holds the Presidency, which has been held successively by Brazil, Norway, South Korea, Senegal, Guinea, France and Chile. The Leading Group’s activities are coordinated by a permanent secretary’s office in Paris. You may contact the Secretariat through e-mail : contact@leadinggroup.org

On different presidencies please contact the relevant site

When was it started?

The Leading Group was founded after the Paris Ministerial Conference on Innovative Development Financing Mechanisms in 2006. Its action stems from the joint Declaration by Presidents Chirac and Lula against hunger and poverty at the United Nations in September 2004. Since then, it has become a leading international forum for discussions on innovative development financing mechanisms.

What are the Leading Group’s most important initiatives?

Three major initiatives have already been implemented: the UNITAID drug purchase facility, the massive International Financing Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) and the Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) for pneumococcal vaccines. Several others are discussed or being launched, such as the voluntary solidarity contributions.

On new initiatives, please visit the section on different mechanisms.

What other mechanisms have been discussed?

The Leading Group is examining several mechanisms. Not all of these mechanisms are health-related. A high-level taskforce gathering 12 countries has been created to study the feasability of a levy on financial transactions. Another working group headed by Norway is examining mechanisms to fight illicit financial flows. Spain, Morocco, Italy, the United Kingdom and France have undertaken a major study of the mechanisms channelling migrants’ remittances. Special attention is also being paid to climate change. Germany, for example, has devoted some of the money raised by auctioning off carbon emission rights to development projects and Norway is passing some of its tax on kerosene to UNITAID.

What can I do to promote the Leading Group’s action?

This website was designed to be a place for learning about the Leading Group’s action and for raising awareness about innovative development financing mechanisms. You can use the sharing tools available to spread the Leading Group’s message and promote its action.