Calls for help exceed global fund resources

Funding proposals submitted to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have exceeded the resources available for this year, the Fund's spokeswoman told PlusNews this week.

According to a preliminary count, the fund received 316 proposals from 101 countries, requesting almost US $1,15 billion for the first year of funding. Africa, the continent most affected by the diseases, made the largest number of requests, totalling US $641 million from over 36 countries, according to a statement by the fund.

The fund has about US $700 million - well below the US $1.9 billion pledged by developed countries and private donors.

"Right now, we've got about $800 million for the year, and hopefully other resources will become available as the year progresses," said Melanie Zipperer, spokeswoman for the fund.

Despite the fact that there might not be enough money to cover all needs, the fund said its launch had boosted by 50 percent the amount of financing available for the developing world to battle the diseases.

"Without the Global Fund, total expenditures from all sources to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in the developing world would be approximately US $1.6 billion in 2002. By disbursing US $700-800 million, the Fund will effectively increase global spending by 50 percent," the fund's statement said.

Meanwhile, in a statement released after the 10 March deadline for proposal submissions, international NGO, Health GAP Coalition, said that dozens of potential countries had weakened their project proposals in anticipation of money shortages.

It said proposals would be posted on its web site "Access Project for the Global Fund" http://www.cid.harvard.edu/gf/. It called on the fund to do the same, in the interests of transparency and good governance.

The coalition said posting proposals on the web would provide countries with information on how proposals should be made and enable a better understanding of the need for an increase in funding.

The coalition also called on the fund to ensure proposals were judged on their merits, not according to "artificial and undisclosed dollar limits dreamt up by donors".

A special technical panel was examining proposals at a meeting in Geneva this week to see whether they meet all the criteria, the fund said in its statement. Recipients of funds will be announced at the end of the month.