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Africa: Global Health Fund Update, 1
Africa: Global Health Fund Update, 1
Date distributed (ymd): 020130
Document reposted by Africa Action
Africa Policy Electronic Distribution List: an information service
provided by AFRICA ACTION (incorporating the Africa Policy
Information Center, The Africa Fund, and the American Committee on
Africa). Find more information for action for Africa at
http://www.africaaction.org
++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: +economy/development+ +health+
SUMMARY CONTENTS:
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria held its first board
meeting in Geneva on January 28-29, and announced funding criteria
for grants to be decided in April. Simultaneously President Bush
announced his budget proposal including a U.S contribution to the
Fund for Fiscal Year 2003 (beginning October 2002) at the same
low level of $200 million as for the current fiscal year. President
Bush's State of the Union address contained no mention of AIDS,
global health, poverty, or any other global or African issue except
terrorism.
This posting contains a brief introductory note by Africa Action
executive director Salih Booker, the press release from the Global
Fund calling for funding proposals to be submitted, and a note from
the selection committee on the NGO members chosen for the Global
Fund board.
Another posting sent out today contains three action-related
documents concerning the current status of the fund and related
issues, from the Global Aids Alliance, the Treatment Action
Campaign, and the Health Gap Coalition.
The British Medical Journal for January 26, 2002 (available on-line
at http://bmj.com), has a special issue on HIV/AIDS, including an
editorial calling for increased funding and effective quick action
by the Global Fund. The UK Stop Aids Campaign has issued a similar
call (http://www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk)
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bush Disregards Africa & the Larger Struggle for Human Security
In May last year, when President Bush announced the initial pledge
of only $200 million towards the $10 billion annual requirement of
the Global Health Fund launched by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
he sent a clear signal to the millions of Africans and others
around the world dying of AIDS: "Drop Dead!" Now, despite
congressional resolutions calling for contributions as high as $750
million a year,the President has repeated his message.
The President has adamantly refused to consider any increase, while
proposing over $40 billion in increased military spending and
maintaining his tax cut for the richest Americans. The White House
inaccurately described the $200 million pledge as a "doubling" of
its previous cotribution.
Other developed and developing countries and even the World Bank
argue that September 11 should be a signal for renewed global
commitment to address the structural violence of poverty that
creates conditions that foster insecurity and terrorism. The U.S.,
however, is lobbying against any commitments to global public
investment. It is, for example, seeking to sabotage the global
conference on Financing for Development, to be held in Monterrey,
Mexico in March, by refusing to tolerate any language calling for
a doubling of development assistance resources for poor countries.
Nevertheless, the Global Fund has been launched, and expects to
receive some $700 million (of the total $1.7 million pledged thus
far) for its first year of operation. The key test, as spelled out
in several of the documents posted here, will be whether these
limited funds quickly reach those on the front lines. -- Salih Booker
P.S. For our article in the Nation (January 10), "AIDS: Another
World War, see
http://www.africaaction.org/desk/nat0201.htm
For Africa Action's press release of May 11, 2001, see
http://www.africaaction.org/desk/pres0105.htmN
PRESS RELEASE
GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TB AND MALARIA ISSUES CALL FOR FUNDING
PROPOSALS
Funding Criteria Announced and Board of Directors Elected;
First Round of Grants To Be Awarded in April
Contacts: Melanie Zipperer at +41 22 791 9456 or Leyla Alyanak at
+41 22 791 9455.
Further information on the Global Fund can be found at
http://www.globalfundatm.org.
GENEVA, 29 January 2002 The Global Fund to fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria, set up to help combat these three
diseases that kill a daunting six million people a year, has
approved its first call for funding proposals from country
partnerships hard hit by the epidemics. The initial round of
grants, to be awarded in April, will be the first made from the
Fund, which was initiated last year by an alliance of private
donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations,
national governments and intergovernmental organizations.
"The Fund is an unprecedented cooperative effort to combat the
world's deadliest epidemics," said Paul Ehmer, Team Leader of the
Secretariat. "Today, we are taking a major step forward, moving
rapidly to get these resources to the people that need them most.
This is not just a matter of caring and compassion -- it is
economically wise as well. The diseases we are addressing have a
terrible impact both on human lives and on economic development."
A report released recently by leading economists and health experts
reaffirms that healthy people are essential to a nation's economic
prosperity.
The Fund will finance plans developed through country partnerships
in severely affected countries as well as in areas with growing
epidemics. It will also support plans in countries that have
demonstrated the highest level political commitment to eradicating
these diseases. Its approach will be integrated and balanced,
covering prevention, treatment, and care and support in dealing
with the three diseases.
Proposals will be funded rapidly, with minimum red tape, but with
enough safeguards to make sure funds are used responsibly and
effectively. Also, the Fund will finance projects that are most
likely to clearly demonstrate measurable success.
To date, industrialized and developing countries, corporations,
foundations and individuals have pledged some US$ 1.9 billion to
the Fund, including a US$ 200 million pledged by the US yesterday.
Up to US$ 700 million are expected to be disbursed in 2002. While
this is an important start, far more resources are needed. The
Fund's aim is to attract significant additional resources that will
increase the pool of money already available to fight AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria.
"To be able to responsibly spend millions of dollars in a way that
will make a measurable difference takes time," said Mr Ehmer. "We
must get it right."
The Purpose of the Global Fund
At a meeting concluded today in Geneva, the newly-elected Board of
Directors approved a call for proposals and finalized a set of
guidelines for their submission, which are designed to help
potential recipient country partnerships apply for funding. The
guidelines explain eligibility, application procedures, the types
of project the Fund is prepared to support, and the criteria on
which funding decisions will be based. The guidelines also explain
the proposal review process, and provide details on how the
projects will be monitored and evaluated.
"The Fund will support interventions based on best practice that
have the potential to fight the three diseases effectively and with
lasting results," said Paul Ehmer. "AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
have a devastating global impact. The objective of the Fund is to
raise significant new resources to fight them, and to apply these
resources in the most strategic and intelligent manner possible.
The streamlined grant-making process we are announcing today is
designed to minimize unnecessary delays, and maximize the support
available for front-line efforts to control these epidemics."
The Global Fund is an independent, public-private partnership whose
cornerstone objective is to help save lives by making an ongoing
and significant contribution to reducing infections, illness and
death. It was created to share resources and expertise across
national boundaries and private and public sectors in order to make
significant progress in fighting AIDS, TB and malaria. These three
diseases have a devastating global impact and together are
responsible for nearly six million deaths a year - 10% of the
world's total - as well as unimaginable social and economic
hardship. Together, the three diseases are responsible for more
than one-third of all deaths in Africa. HIV/AIDS kills about half
- three million deaths in 2001 - while malaria and TB share the
rest of the burden.
How the Global Fund is Administered
A unique feature of the Global Fund is its composition.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) sit on the Board with two
voting seats, as does the private sector. The NGO seats, one from
a developing country and one from an industrialized one, belong to
the German Institute for Medical Mission and to Health Rights
Action from Uganda. The private sector has two seats, one for
foundations, held by the Gates Foundation, and the other for
private companies, represented by Anglo-American PLC.
All members were chosen by their own constituencies - governments,
NGOs and the private sector. Board members are appointed for two
years, with equal representation - seven seats each - from donor
and developing country governments.
Donor countries represented on the Board are France, Italy, Japan,
Sweden, the UK, the US and the European Commission. Some of these
seats have alternates and will rotate among countries. The seven
developing countries on the Board include, China, Brazil, Nigeria,
Pakistan, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine.
In addition to regular Board members, the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization
(WHO), along with the World Bank, which handles the Global Fund's
finances, hold ex-officio non-voting seats on the Board. The
Board's composition includes a person living with or affected by
HIV/AIDS, TB or malaria, also in a non-voting seat.
The Fund will not be business as usual. Nor will it be a large
bureaucracy. A small Secretariat located in Geneva manages the
Global Fund's work and recruitment of the permanent executive head
and staff is beginning. Meantime, an interim Secretariat is being
staffed by secondments from UN organizations and governments.
The Road to the Fund
The concept of a fund was initially raised 18 months ago at the G-8
summit in Okinawa. The notion was endorsed at the UN General
Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in June 2001 and again at the
G-8 Summit in Genoa under the Italian presidency in July 2001. It
was championed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose calls for
stronger action kept attention focused on the Fund. Shortly
thereafter, a Transitional Working Group (TWG) was set up to
establish a new Global Fund, broadened to include tuberculosis and
malaria.
During its mandate, the TWG - made up of more than 40
representatives from developing and donor countries, NGOs, the
private sector, foundations and associations of people living or
affected by HIV/AIDS, TB or malaria –negotiated the design and
operations of the Global Fund, including its legal status,
management structure, financial systems and general eligibility
criteria. This process involved three meetings of the TWG, regional
consultations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe,
and thematic consultations with civil society, the private sector
and academia. At its last meeting in December 2001, the TWG handed
over its package of recommendations to the new Board and was
dissolved.
Mobilizing additional public and private resources will be a key
goal for the Fund. The Fund's second board meeting will take place
towards the end of April in New York.
N
BTS (break-the-silence) Listserv, January 25, 2002
BTS discussion archives and subscription information are available
at: http://www.hdnet.org
Dear Colleagues,
The Selection Committee would like to thank everyone who applied
for an NGO position on the GFATM Board. We received strong
applications, and hope that everyone will continue their interest
in the GFATM. Having strong NGO involvement and representation in
the country processes will help to see that the Fund addresses the
needs of the communities we serve.
The following candidates and alternates have been selected as NGO
representatives on the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis & Malaria:
NGO Representative from a Developing Country:
Milly Katana is currently the Lobbying and Advocacy Officer for
Health Rights Action Group in Uganda. Milly has worked with
various UN agencies such as the United National Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Program
Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). She has recently concluded an
assignment on Strengthening Programs for People Living with
HIV/AIDS in Botswana, working with the Government of Botswana and
the World Health Organization. Milly is a woman living with
HIV/AIDS. She has extensive experience with various national and
international networks, including the African Council of AIDS
Service Organizations (AfriCASO), the Society of Women Against AIDS
in Africa (SWAA) and the Network of African People Living with
HIV/AIDS (NAP+) and the Global Network of People Living With
HIV/AIDS (GNP+). Milly has a keen interest in issues affecting
women with HIV and families affected.
Milly Katana Health Rights Action Group P.O. Box 40126, Kampala,
Uganda Tel: +256- 41-223957 / +256-41-403836 Fax: +256-41-222201 /
+256-41-343301 E-mail: katanam@infocom.co.ug
NGO Representative from a Developed Country
Christoph Benn is the Head of the Department for Health Policy and
Studies with the German Institute for Medical Mission. As a
medical doctor in tropical medicine and public health he has
experience in the treatment and prevention of AIDS, TB and malaria.
Since 1992, he has spent several months per year particularly in
Africa and Asia to work with communities and NGOs in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of health care programs. As the
current secretary of the German working group on international
health, he coordinates more than 50 organizations from all sectors.
Christoph works with many national and international organizations
including the World Council of Churches, the Ecumenical Advocacy
Alliance and is cofounder of the German network Covenant for Action
Against AIDS.
Christoph Benn German Institute for Medical Mission
Paul-Lechler-Str. 24, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany Tel: +7071-206520
E-mail: benn@difam.de
Representative of PWA/Malaria/TB Communities
Philippa Lawson is the International HIV/AIDS Team Leader/ Senior
Program Manager for the Academy for Educational Development. She
has worked in numerous countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the
Caribbean and Latin America. Philippa is a woman living with
HIV/AIDS and has extensive linkages to key local, national and
international networks including the International Community of
Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW). Philippa has worked with numerous
marginalized communities, and her emphasis over the years has
always been to ensure that the needs of women and children are
always considered. She has extensive experience working with
advocacy and on review and technical bodies.
Philippa Lawson Academy for Educational Development 1825
Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA Tel: (202)
884-8586; Fax: (202) 884-85474 E-mail: Plawson@aed.org
Alternate NGO representative from a developing country:
Fidon R. Mwombeki is the General Secretary of the Northwestern
Diocese Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). He lives
in a community that has been severely affected by AIDS, malaria and
TB and is committed to fighting all three diseases. Fidon has been
involved in the fight against AIDS since 1986 when his diocese
first intervened to provide support and care for orphans. He has
extensive experience working at community, national and
international levels. He has worked with ELCT's Primary Health
Care Program, the Building Eastern Africa Community Network, the
Tanzania Coalition on Debt and Development, the Jubilee 2000
campaign and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
Fidon R. Mwombeki, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania,
Northwestern Diocese P.O. Box 98, Bukoba, Tanzania Tel: (+255-28)
222-1313; Fax: (+255-28) 222-0954 E-mail: elct-nwd@twiga.com
Alternate NGO representative from a developed country:
Peter Poore is a Health Adviser with extensive experience with Save
the Children. As a medical doctor Peter has 28 years of experience
in health care delivery and the development and management of
health care systems in developing countries. He has been involved
in policy work on HIV since the mid 1980s; his experience working
with malaria and TB extends back to the 1970s. He has extensive
international experience and has worked with the Department for
International Development (DFID) UK, The World Health Organization,
UNICEF, the World Bank and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunisation.
Peter Poore Reading Green Farmhouse, Denham, Eye, Suffolk, United
Kingdom Tel: (+44-137) 966-8134 E-mail: pdpoore@aol.com
Alternate representative of PWA/Malaria/TB communities:
Charles Roy is the Executive Director of the AIDS Committee of
Toronto (ACT), the largest AIDS service organization in Canada.
Charles is a man living with HIV/AIDS and has been a leader in the
Canadian HIV/AIDS field for the past decade, working with
community, professional and academic organizations to advocate for
the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. His interest in
promoting the dignity and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS
expands beyond non-governmental work and has also been demonstrated
through his lecturing and writing. Charles' interest in promoting
the dignity and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS expands
beyond non-governmental work and has also been demonstrated through
his lecturing and writing. His docteral dissertation, "Living and
Serving: Persons with HIV in the Canadian AIDS Movement", explores
the challenges and opportunities that consumer involvement brings
to a health movement.
Charles Roy, AIDS Committee of Toronto 399 Church Street, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5B 2J6 Tel: (+1-416) 340-8484 ext. 271; Fax:
(+1-416) 340-8224 E-mail: croy@actoronto.org
We wish them success in moving our issues and priorities forward.
Information on the specific roles of the Alternates will be
circulated as it is available.
The members of the Selection Committee were:
Alex Coutinho - TASO, former TWG member; Joseph Scheich - Aids
Fonds, former TWG member; Paula Fujiwara - International Union
Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), former TWG member;
Richard Burzynski - ICASO, former TWG member; Linda Hartke - World
Council of Churches, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance; Leslie Wright "C
CONGO; Bai Bagasao - UNAIDS (advisor, no vote)
[submitted by: tanyaj@icaso.org on behalf of the committee]
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by Africa
Action (incorporating the Africa Policy Information Center, The
Africa Fund, and the American Committee on Africa). Africa
Action's information services provide accessible information and
analysis in order to promote U.S. and international policies
toward Africa that advance economic, political and social justice
and the full spectrum of human rights.
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