Global Fund Board launches new funding approach and approves first grants

The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria recently launched a new funding strategy  "to make more effective grants, with greater impact, so that more people can benefit from prevention, care and treatment of AIDS, TB and malaria" (Global Fund June 19, 2013).

The new model focuses on strengthening partnerships, speeding up grant implementation and providing greater security for recipients. Grants with a value of $622 million are now beginning to be implemented. The first applicant countries El Salvador, Myanmar and Zimbabwe received approval and support earlier this year to develop proposals and finalise new grants that will deliver on HIV and Aids programmes. 

The first three applicant grants also included funding to support improvements to data systems "so that epidemiological data can better define reliable and appropriate size estimates for people at greatest risk of infection, as well as investment in better monitoring and evaluation on how to effectively reach those people and address their specific needs." (Global Fund June 19,2013)

It is expected that the model will be rolled out to other recipients in 2014. Professor C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health in Nigeria, participated in the board meeting to launch the funding approach. Following the meeting he expressed support for the new funding model and describes the new approach as  "flexible and makes for sustainability of programs based on country leadership and priorities."

Read the full press release announcing the grant approval and more detail on Global Fund's New Funding Model (June 19, 2013).