Board

The 53ᵉ Board meeting of the Global Fund took place on May 7, 8, and 9. A thorough examination of integrity and adherence to core ethical values was one of the subjects covered. This article will provide a concise overview of the topics covered at the 53ᵉ board meeting about the Global Fund ethics and integrity program.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board has approved three Round 7 proposals whose original rejection had been appealed by the applicants. The newly approved proposals are from Azerbaijan, Cambodia and Zambia.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund’s endorsed Strategy Framework has now been translated into the draft Strategy Narrative. The Global Fund Observer has obtained a copy of the internal document, which is not for external circulation, and describes its content and aspirations.

ABSTRACT In a progress update provided to the Board at its 42nd Board meeting, the Secretariat noted that Country Coordination Mechanisms (CCMs) that took part in the CCM Evolution pilot have demonstrated an enhanced capacity to oversee grants and engage with other national structures and coordination platforms. However, these CCMs are still falling short ensuring meaningful engagement of CCM civil society constituencies in key CCM processes and improving their internal functioning. The Secretariat plans to incorporate the lessons learnt and roll out CCM Evolution across 115 CCMs globally, starting with 90 countries in 2020.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board will shortly have a new chair and vice-chair. On 2 May 2019, the Board appointed Donald Kaberuka as chair and Roslyn Morauta as vice-chair. Each will serve for a two-year term starting from the adjournment of the 41st Board Meeting on 16 May. They will replace the outgoing chair and vice-chair, Aida Kurtović and John Simon, respectively. For this selection, the Board followed a new process that it adopted in May 2018.

ABSTRACT In its first performance report combining key performance indicators and strategy implementation reporting, the Global Fund has reported several items of good news to the 40th Board: 101% of the target for the Fifth Replenishment has been pledged and the Secretariat is forecasting that all pledges will be fulfilled; investments are better aligned to needs and national strategic plans; and country programs have increased funds absorption and provided better disaggregated data. However, enduring problems remain in service delivery and coverage of key populations.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board, responding to a proposal developed by the Secretariat in consultation with partners and civil society, has approved an exceptional $5.0 million donation to Venezuela as a “short-term humanitarian response” to the economic and health crisis in that country. The bulk of the funds will go to the purchase of ARVs. The rest will support civil society organizations to provide oversight and monitoring of the delivery of ARVs to patients. The funding is exceptional, as it is the first time Venezuela is receiving Global Fund support, and because the support is a ‘donation’ rather than a grant.

ABSTRACT Although there have been some delays, steady progress has been made in implementing activities related to the second objective of the Global Fund Strategy 2017-2022 (building resilient and sustainable systems for health). Some challenges have been encountered, especially in operationalizing strategic initiatives.

ABSTRACT The Board has been wrestling for some time with how best to accommodate new public donors on a Board that, in terms of voting members, is delicately balanced between a donor bloc and an implementers bloc. As an interim measure, the Board has established a non-voting seat for new public donors. Efforts to find a longer-term solution will continue.

ABSTRACT The Secretariat’s semi-annual report on the implementation of the Global Fund Strategy 2017-2022 documents significant progress on many fronts. However, it also notes that timelines and resources have been squeezed in a year where record numbers of funding requests were reviewed and then massaged in grant-making. This article reports on progress made under the first of the four strategic objectives – “Maximize impact against the diseases.” We will report on progress in implementing activities under other strategic objectives in future issues.