strategic initiatives

ABSTRACT Ghana’s early successes in the Global Fund’s Differentiated HIV Service Delivery Strategic Initiative shows that external funding always has the most impact if the existing infrastructure is adequately prepared prior to receiving the funding, and in-country structures are strong enough to provide guidance, coordinate stakeholders and monitor implementation progress. These lessons are not only applicable to the Global Fund’s HIV program in Ghana, but can also be transferred to other grants, other financing institutions and other countries.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board has approved the catalytic funding priorities for the next allocation period. The total cost to fully implement all 26 priorities is $894 million. However, the actual budget won’t be known until after the Sixth Replenishment pledging conference in October 2019. The Board decision contains five potential funding scenarios. Nevertheless, the Secretariat can now begin planning for implementation of the catalytic funding priorities.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board has adopted a new CCM Policy, replacing the CCM Guidelines and Requirements for Country Coordinating Mechanisms. The Board also adopted a new Code of Ethical Conduct for CCM Members and approved $1.2 million over three years to fund implementation and enforcement of the code. Finally, the Board decided to add “CCMs” to the Fund’s list of strategic initiatives.

ABSTRACT Only three of six planned windows for the 2017-2019 allocations have passed, but already the Board has approved grants collectively valued at 83% of the total allocation. This front-end loading is not surprising, given that 70% of existing grants have an end date of 31 December 2017. We provide an update on the various funding modalities.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund has announced how it plans to allocate the $260 million in the 2017-2019 allocations set aside for multi-country approaches. The Fund has identified the strategic priority areas and will use a combination of pre-identified applicants and competitive applications to develop one or more initiatives in each area.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund has made available more information on the three funding streams that make up its catalytic investments: Matching Funds, Multi-Country Approaches and Strategic Initiatives. This article provides details.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund Board has approved $800 million in catalytic investments: $356 million for matching funds, $272 million for multi-country approaches and $172 million for strategic initiatives. Matching funds will replace former incentive funding requests, making these investments more strategic. Funding for multi-country approaches and strategic initiatives will increase by nearly 50% compared to the 2014-2016 period.