Zambia

This new issue of the GFO is devoted entirely to the 53rd meeting of the Global Fund Board, which took place from May 7 to 9, 2025, in Geneva, revealing a pivotal moment for the institution as it confronts major funding gaps, governance challenges, and the urgent need for reform. From the Executive Director’s call for unity and realism to debates over grant reprogramming, risk management, and ethical oversight, the meeting underscored the fragile balance between ambition and constraint.

This article analyses the Global Fund’s 2024 OIG Annual Report, which was presented at the 53rd Board Meeting, from May 7 to 9, 2025, in Geneva. The report highlights the Global Fund’s progress amid global uncertainty, identifies key governance-related risks, and calls for bold operational reforms to maximize efficiency and safeguard billions in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

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 "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?"

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 The Global Fund Board has allocated $43.3 million in additional funding for portfolio optimization to several Global Fund grants, including Kosovo (HIV/AIDS), the Middle East Response (integrated), Namibia (Malaria), Nigeria (Malaria), South Sudan (Tuberculosis), and Zambia (TB/HIV).

ABSTRACT In Zambia, one of the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, an umbrella organization of faith-based health facilities has been pivotal in the fight against the disease: the Churches Health Association of Zambia. An indigenous organization, CHAZ has been a successful Principal Recipient of Global Fund grants since 2003. Its leaders credit this longevity and their programs’ success to their belief in God and themselves.

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 Reports from Zambia’s government medical stores to the Secretariat in 2016 and 2017 of missing HIV test kits triggered an OIG investigation into the losses, uncovering large-scale theft of HIV, TB and malaria-related medical products. The OIG is seeking recovery of more than $1 million for the "unexplained losses".

ABSTRACT The Global Fund OIG and AFROSAI-E, the umbrella organization of English-speaking ‘supreme audit institutions’ in Africa, are collaborating in order to improve the oversight and performance of Global Fund grants in AFROSAI-E member countries. A new model of collaboration has been piloted in Zambia, with lessons learned since applied in two other country audits.