AHF’s 2018 Protest at the World Bank

In April 2018, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) led global HIV/AIDS and social justice advocates in a protest outside the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, during the institution’s annual Spring Meetings. The demonstration was part of AHF’s broader “Raise the MIC” campaign, which called for a revision of how the World Bank defines and classifies Middle-Income Countries (MICs).

AHF wrapped truck that reads, “The World Bank: Rich Countries Shouldn’t Define Poverty For Poor Countries. RaisetheMIC.org” in Washington, D.C.

At the time, the World Bank’s classification system labeled countries as “middle-income” starting at just $2.76 in gross national income (GNI) per capita per day—only slightly above the international poverty line of $1.90. AHF raised concerns that this metric failed to reflect the true economic conditions on the ground in many countries, where large portions of the population continue to live in poverty.

This misclassification has real-world consequences. Countries categorized as MICs often lose eligibility for critical forms of support such as foreign aid, discounted development loans, and lower prices for essential medicines, including antiretroviral therapies for HIV/AIDS. AHF has consistently argued that such classifications do not account for internal economic disparities and result in diminished access to lifesaving interventions for those most in need.

AHF staff members marching, holding signs that read, “Jim Kim $2.86 Is Not Enough” and “$2.76 per Day is Not Middle Income” during a protest against the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

During the 2018 protest, AHF renewed its call for the World Bank to raise the lower limit of the MIC threshold to at least $10 per day. This adjustment would more accurately reflect the cost of living and help preserve access to vital global health resources.

AHF protesters carried signs that featured a plain white coffee cup bearing the World Bank’s logo, accompanied by the message: “$2.76 per day is NOT Middle-Income.” This campaign served as a powerful visual reminder of the disconnect between classification and reality.

AHF staff members marching, holding signs that read, “Jim Kim: Do The Right Thing” during a protest against the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

This protest was part of a sustained global advocacy effort launched by AHF in 2015. Since then, the “Raise the MIC” campaign has sparked similar demonstrations and policy discussions around the world, including in Kenya, Peru, Cambodia, and beyond.

This moment in 2018 remains a clear example of AHF’s ongoing commitment to confronting systemic barriers to care and ensuring that economic definitions do not become obstacles to global health equity.

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