Global Fund Announces grants

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced its first round of grants to country programmes to prevent and treat the three diseases on Thursday.

The Fund awarded a total of US $378 million over two years to 40 programmes in 31 countries.

The approved grants were selected from more than 300 proposals submitted for the first round of funding. These proposals requested more than US $5 billion from the Global Fund over five years.

"We received far more proposals than we are able to fund in this first round, demonstrating how great the need is to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria," Dr Anders Nordström, Interim Executive Director of the Global Fund said in a press release.

"We prioritised high-quality proposals that were based on effective programmes and lessons learned, and were developed by partnerships of governments, community organisations, people living with the diseases, and other groups," he added.

Twenty one of the 28 countries that will receive funds to fight HIV/AIDS, have grants that specifically include funding to purchase antiretroviral treatments.

Nigeria's proposal for the expansion of their antiretroviral programme received US $5.7 million, while the expansion of their current prevention of mother-to-child transmission project received about US $3.6 million this year.

The HIV/AIDS component of Zambia's proposal received the largest amount, with US $19.8 million for a year. A proposal submitted by Malawi's Country Coordinating Mechanism was approved for deferred funding, as it needed more extensive adjustments.

The board also agreed a fast-track process to approve an additional US $238 million for 18 proposals in 12 countries, plus three multi-country proposals, provided certain conditions were met.

Speaking at a telephone press briefing, Fund officials said far more resources were needed for "sufficient, effective programmes of treatment and prevention for the three diseases".

"This funding is a significant advance in the global fight against AIDS, TB and malaria, but it is only a first step," said Dr Anne Peterson, Assistant Administrator for Global Health at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
"More funding is needed from governments, businesses, foundations, and other donors if we are to mount an effective and sustained response to these epidemics."

The Global Fund plans to issue a second call for proposals later this year. Officials noted that the Fund would continue to look for ways to make the application process as accessible as possible to potential grantees.

Click here for more information on proposals approved for funding