Grant making

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board recently approved a TB, an HIV and a malaria grant for Nepal, all of which have a civil society principal recipient: Save the Children Federation. The Technical Review Panel cited numerous strengths in the funding requests, including the fact that Nepal is on its way towards malaria elimination, and that the country is planning to assume 100% of ARV costs by 2020 and triple its financial commitments to the TB program. However, there are concerns that lack of progress on human rights could compromise the attainment of HIV diagnosis and care targets.

ABSTRACT There was a strong focus on communities and key populations in Cameroon’s TB/HIV funding request. The Board approved two HIV grants and one TB grant in January 2018. Cameroon also submitted a malaria funding request, which led to approval of a malaria grant in December 2017. Some key initiatives were relegated to the prioritized above-allocation requests due to a lack of available funding.

ABSTRACT In what may be its final TB and HIV grants from the Global Fund, Thailand aims to boost services for key populations. It will also improve sub-national planning and provincial coordination of HIV and TB programs as part of Thailand’s preparation for transition. The Board approved the grants in December 2017 after Thailand revised and resubmitted its TB/HIV funding request.

ABSTRACT We need to work with the OIG more on agreed management actions to try to make the timelines and deliverables more realistic, Marijke Wijnroks says in the Annual Report of the Interim Executive Director 2017, prepared for the Board meeting just concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. This article summarizes what Wijnroks said about AMAs and about supply chain transformation; grant-making; “Fit for the Future”; Gavi and the Global Health Campus; and the transition to the new E.D., Peter Sands.

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.

ABSTRACT In October, the Global Fund Board approved two grants emanating from Bangladesh’s TB funding request. The request was well received by the Technical Review Panel and the Grant Approvals Committee. The two grants will expand case finding interventions, upgrade diagnostics and scale-up a public-private mix approach to TB.

ABSTRACT The two TB/HIV grants to Malawi approved by the Global Fund Board closely reflect the funding request submitted last March. The Technical Review Panel, which reviewed the funding request in April and May, requested only minimal adjustments and clarifications. The grants are heavily oriented towards HIV.

ABSTRACT The Technical Review Panel and the Grant Approvals Committee say they are concerned that Benin’s decision to shift funds for HIV and malaria from within its indicative allocation to create an RSSH component has left serious gaps in Benin’s HIV and TB programs. The Secretariat has decided to leave Benin’s final program split decision open.

ABSTRACT Two new publications on civil society and communities have been published by ICASO and the Global Forum on MSM & HIV.

ABSTRACT In its second audit in three years of the Global Fund’s grant-making processes, the Office of the Inspector General has found that many of the risks identified in the original audit have been addressed. However, implementation of systems enhancements has been delayed, which may affect the ability of the Fund to sign grants on time.