Global Fund Board Meeting

Faced with a sharp decline in international aid, growing competing priorities, and an imminent risk of financial crisis, the Global Fund is making budget cuts—postponing certain expenditures related to infrastructure, equipment, and research—to keep its HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs running. While COVID-19 response efforts remain untouched for now, other critical initiatives risk delays, legal hurdles, and disruptions, particularly for frontline NGOs and contracted partners. The message is clear: “Protect what matters, adapt to the crisis.” The way forward? “Do more with less, without leaving the most vulnerable behind.” But were there really any unnecessary expenses to begin with? In any case, this new budgetary reality is expected to shape much of the discussion at the 53rd Board Meeting, to be held from May 7 to 9, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.

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.

This article highlights the key points of the Global Fund’s 2023-2028 Strategic Performance Summary Report, which will be presented at the 53rd Board Meeting, scheduled to take place from May 7 to 9, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland. Without excessive pessimism, the prevailing feeling is a mix of hope and deep concern.

This special issue dedicated to the 53rd Board Meeting, to be held from May 7 to 9, 2025, explores the growing tension between strategic ambitions and budgetary constraints within the Global Fund. Balancing hope, warnings, and ethical dilemmas, it highlights the critical issues that will shape the decisions ahead.

ABSTRACT Following on from an earlier GFO article on the appetite for risk, we argue that challenging operating environments need additional flexibilities to meet their very specific circumstances; added risk for the Global Fund, maybe, but examples from West and Central Africa show that the pay-offs can be considerable.

ABSTRACT Our editorial team’s summary of what you can expect from this issue of the Global Fund Observer. Our focus this week is on the health targets used to determine national health budgets and contributions to the Seventh Replenishment, as well as two Office of the Inspector General reports.

ABSTRACT Our editorial team’s summary of what you can expect from this issue of the Global Fund Observer.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Secretariat presented its update on country funding to the 46th Board meeting just held in early November. As of 20 October 2021, 186 out of 200 Funding Requests reviewed in Windows 1-6 had been recommended for grant-making.

ABSTRACT The Office of the Inspector General provided the Global Fund Board with a summary of its progress to date in dealing with outstanding Agreed Management Actions which are recommendations based on its audit reports. COVID-19 disruptions, competing priorities in signing new grants, and challenges in selecting implementers continue to hinder the Secretariat’s ability to implement AMAs that require extensive engagement with in-country implementers. As such, long-overdue AMAs increased from 14 (May 2021) to 23 (September 2021). Four of the 23 long-overdue AMAs pose high risk.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund operating budget for 2022 has been presented to and approved by the Board. There are no surprises or matters of real concern but, if the relevant documents are studied closely, there are some inconsistencies and unclear explanations.