Absorptive capacity

ABSTRACT More than 70% of Global Fund grants under the 2017-2019 allocation period ended by 31 December 2020. A September analysis by Aidspan had found that a sample of these grants had received only 82% of their total signed amounts for the grants. A follow-up analysis has found that these grants had received 92% of the funding by the end of the grant. While some grants had received most of their funds, others were lagging behind. The Global Fund will continue to disburse the remaining funding to implementers under certain conditions until June 2021, as one of its measures to safeguard in-country absorption.

ABSTRACT Global Fund implementer countries are not on track to spend grant-funds in the current allocation period. With three months left to the end of 70% of active grants, an analysis of a sample of implementer countries shows that only 82% of available funding has been disbursed. The countries will need to adopt more robust measures to improve absorption amid COVID-19.

ABSTRACT The Global Fund is on track to meet an 'absorptive capacity' target of 75% by 2022. However, some countries are still grappling to ensure that they spend their allocated funds within the agreed-upon timeframes. Absorption issues are especially evident for countries that are ‘challenging operating environments’, for less commoditized grants, and for government implementers. Challenges at the Global Fund Secretariat and implementer level often impede a country’s ability to spend all its funds.

ABSTRACT Guinea has faced several significant challenges in implementing its Global Fund grants. Some challenges were inherent to the Global Fund grant policy implementation. Others were related to the country's political and epidemiological contexts. As a low-income country with a weak health system, Guinea needs to spend its co-financing funds optimally. Solutions to most challenges require stronger country ownership and an investment in health systems.

ABSTRACT The annual consultative meeting of the Global Fund’s African Constituencies took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in October, to discuss a range of issues that may be raised at the Global Fund’s 40th Board Meeting next week, including the pervasive and longstanding problem of implementers’ absorptive capacity. Representatives at the Addis Ababa meeting included all country constituencies, as well as representation from the Global Fund Board, the Secretariat and UNAIDS.