WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday pledged to give up to $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years, saying an “AIDS-free generation” may be within reach.

The pledge represents $1 billion more than the United States committed during the previous round of funding in 2010, when Obama faced criticism for not doing enough and setting a bad example that gave other countries an excuse to limit their donations.

The $5 billion contribution, the amount activists asked for, will be met if other countries commit to giving $10 billion as per a 1-to-2 funding ratio set by Congress.

“We’re making progress,” Obama said at a White House event marking World AIDS Day, which was Sunday. “But we’re all here today because we know how much work remains to be done.”

In announcing the additional funds Monday, White House officials outlined a multipronged approach to fighting AIDS.

On the research front, the National Institutes of Health will redirect $100 million to advance study into new generation therapies to develop an HIV cure. In terms of public health, Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius announced a campaign to get all pregnant women in the United States screened for HIV.