Malawi

ABSTRACT "It is impossible to overstate how strongly people [in Africa] feel that the Global Fund is the best vehicle we have to finance the struggle against the pandemic. Every country yielded the same questions: When will the money come? Does the Global Fund have enough money? Why don't governments contribute to it? What happens if it goes bankrupt?"

RÉSUMÉ Des cadres supérieurs de la Fondation Chinansi, maître d’œuvre des subventions du Fonds mondial au Malawi, se sont livrés à des activités frauduleuses opportunistes. Un montant de 70 572 dollars a été détourné d’un programme de soutien aux adolescentes et aux jeunes femmes. En outre, 9 924 dollars de dépenses non-conformes ont également été identifiés. Ce rapport explique l’enquête menée par le Bureau de l’Inspecteur général sur les événements et les mesures prises pour décourager et signaler de telles activités frauduleuses à l’avenir.

ABSTRACT Senior staff members at the Chinansi Foundation, an implementer of Global Fund grants in Malawi, engaged in opportunistic fraudulent activity. $70,572 was misappropriated from a program supporting adolescent girls and young women; and an additional total of $9,924 of non-compliant expenses were also identified. This report explains the investigation by the Office of the Inspector General into what occurred and the action being taken to deter/signal such fraud in future.

ABSTRACT A new report on HIV prevention in Southern Africa points out that the needs of the most important population groups are not being addressed. Generalized prevention programs are unlikely to reach or cater to the needs of younger people and key populations. Targeted and increased prevention funding is necessary to accelerate change. The report provides a contemporary overview of HIV prevention funding in Southern Africa in ten selected countries. Its purpose is to support advocacy efforts that increase spending to the requisite levels and end the epidemic.

ABSTRACT An audit by the Office of the Inspector General of Global Fund grants in Malawi acknowledges the country’s progress against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the context of its health system facing multiple challenges. While also noting some improvements in data collection systems and the supply chain, the OIG says major improvements are needed in financial controls within two of the country’s three Principal Recipients, and in Malawi’s program for HIV interventions for adolescent girls and young women.

ABSTRACT Fiscal agents are part of the Global Fund’s financial risk management in countries with fiduciary risks. Fiscal agents have been successful at reducing financial risks originating from weak financial management of Global Fund grant implementers. However, fiscal agents are not effective in building implementers’ capacity, contrary to their mandate.

ABSTRACT Southern African countries with large mining communities and thus high exposure to TB risk have developed a joint approach to address screening, tracking, tracing and treatment among the highly mobile population.

ABSTRACT In March, the Global Fund Board approved two country grants and awarded supplementary funding to a third. Egypt, a non-CCM applicant, received a new TB/HIV grant. The Board also approved a multi-country grant for the Caribbean region, and five sets of interventions from the Register of Unfunded Quality Demand.

ABSTRACT Malawi has made significant progress in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria since it started receiving Global Fund funding in 2003. Malawi faces significant challenges in implementing Global Fund grants, such as low domestic contributions to the health sector, low absorption of Global Fund grants, and a weak health system, which undermine achieving maximum impact against the three diseases. Some challenges relate to Global Fund processes while most relate to Malawi’s economic and political context. Solutions include increased country investments in health systems, addressing bottlenecks to effective absorption of funding, and increased oversight of grant implementation.

ABSTRACT A new report from ICASO published on January 8, 2019, highlights improvements in Malawi’s Global Fund program during the 2017-2019 funding cycle. The authors summarize the report’s findings for the GFO. The total funding requested for key and vulnerable populations rose dramatically, and service packages for these groups were defined in greater detail. According to the report, a broad and systematic community engagement process contributed to these positive changes. However, community monitoring initiatives are direly needed to ensure greater accountability during grant implementation.