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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’s Results Report 2018, published on 12 September, is the first such report to use a revised methodology for tracking and reporting impact and results achieved by the Global Fund partnership. The report records large increases in the numbers of lives saved and people treated for the three diseases.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board recently approved three TB and HIV grants for Tanzania, two of which have a government principal recipient (the Ministry of Finance and Planning). The third PR is AMREF Health Africa. The Technical Review Panel cited numerous strengths in the funding request, including the fact that the request identified key populations for TB: i.e. HIV-positive adults and children, mining communities, elderly persons, prisoners, people with diabetes, people who inject drugs, health workers and people living in urban slums.

ABSTRACT Mozambique’s new TB/HIV grants will have a strong focus on retention and adherence for people who were recently initiated on antiretroviral treatment. According to the Technical Review Panel, civil society, including representatives of key populations, were fully engaged in the development of the funding request. Among the concerns raised by the TRP was that the interventions to improve treatment outcomes for multiple-drug-resistant TB were not clearly articulated. In addition, the TRP sent two matching funds requests back for iteration.

ABSTRACT The Grant Approvals Committee says it is very concerned that ambitious treatment goals in national programs are often not reflected in grant performance frameworks because of limitations in the allocations. The committee raised this issue in its report to the Board on the third batch of grant approvals for 2017-2019. The GAC called for urgent inter-agency discussions and it said that donor governments should be included in the talks.

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 A new database on antiretrovirals in use in 15 countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia will be used by civil society organizations doing treatment advocacy. It will also help countries transitioning away from Global Fund support.

ABSTRACT Programs supported by The Global Fund added another 787,000 people on antiretroviral treatment in the first half of 2016, bringing cumulative results to 10 million. During that same period, the number of smear-positive TB cases detected and treated increased by 1.4 million (cumulative total: 15.6 million); and the number of mosquito nets distributed rose by 54 million (cumulative total: 713 million). In a comment, Aidspan says that it difficult to know how much of the increase in numbers of people receiving services is due to better counting.

ABSTRACT A group of researchers asks whether the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 with current prevention approaches is realistic. They question estimates of HIV incidence and the number of people on treatment, and they express doubts about revenue forecasts.

ABSTRACT In July 2016, the Global Fund Board approved $388 million to extend shortened grants in five countries.