Global Fund to Change The Funding Strategy

By Isaiah Esipisu



Different posters with different meanings at the
International Aids Conference in Washington

Washington DC: Countries funded by the Global Fund for the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria will no longer receive the money in ‘batches of rounds’ as it has traditionally been for the past ten years.

According to Dr Christopher Benn, the Director – External Relations and Partnerships Cluster at the Global Fund, the ‘annual funding round’ system is no longer sustainable, and as a result the funding agency will now focus on supporting particular projects of interest.

“The ‘annual rounds’ method of funding was a good way to channel a lot of money quickly to countries in need, where the Global Fund has built up projects in 150 countries all over the world. But it is no longer the best,” said Dr Benn during the ongoing International Aids Conference in Washington DC.

The Global Fund will now allocate money to countries depending on dialogue based on particular needs. “The funding of projects may not be provided necessarily on annual plans. It could be discussed on quarterly basis, where countries will be expected to make a plan outlining priority areas. This way, if a country loses out on one funding opportunity, it will not have to wait for a whole year to send in another proposal,” said Dr Benn.

According to the Deputy Director for the National Aids Control Council, funding projects is the way to go, because the target projects will be more predictable than when the same cash is put in a central place.

“Funding projects directly will make the system more transparent because if we need money for a project touching on orphans for example, then we simply write a proposal that targets that priority area. It is better than the annual round system, where the money comes to one principal recipient, who in turn has the burden of redistributing the same to other entities including government projects, the civil society among others,” said the NACC Deputy boss.

His sentiments were echoed by the Minister for Gender, Children and Special Programme Hon Esther Murungi, who headed the Kenya’s delegation of 300 participants to the Aids Conference in the USA.

Kenya is among countries that have missed out on the annual round funding from the Global Fund because either money from the previous grants had not been absorbed, or simply because the proposal did not sail through. The latest miss-out for Kenya was during the funding period for the year 2009/2010, when the country forwent $270, (or Sh21 billion) which was to be used in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria.

However, Dr Benn pointed out that the Global Fund is currently enjoying the good relationship with Kenya. “Of late, things have improved greatly with Kenya. The country coordinating mechanism has been restructured and is functioning very well. We are therefore having a very good working relationship with the government as well as many other nongovernmental organizations we are supporting in the country. 

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