The Global Fund may reduce funding for Nigeria’s HIV and TB grants by more than $5 million due to problems in recovering amounts that Nigeria owes as a result of an OIG audit and investigation in 2011. The Nigeria country coordinating mechanism is appealing to the government to help pay the amounts owing.

The Global Fund should be more open about the changes it is considering making to the allocations methodology for 2017-2019, David Garmaise says. So far, no information has been made public concerning the options that are being reviewed. There is little time left for discussion.

Attaining the new Sustainable Development Goal for health and well-being will be very expensive. For example, the estimated price tag for achieving the target of ending AIDS by 2030 is $36 billion a year, almost twice the current funding level of $19 billion. The upcoming Global Fund replenishment will be critical to meeting the funding gap.

The World Health Organization has revised its HIV guidelines to recommend that anyone who tests positive for the virus should be treated immediately. Experts welcomed the new guidelines but warned that fulfilling them would require a substantial cash injection and an overhaul of current strategies.

The Office of the Inspector General found evidence of fraudulent practices and other procurement irregularities on the part of the principal recipient for an HIV grant to Egypt, which compromised contracts worth $668,877.  

An audit conducted in 2015 by the Office of the Inspector General of grants to Pakistan found that internal controls over programmatic activities were generally effective, but that there are considerable weaknesses in implementation arrangements, financial management, and procurement and supply chain management. 

Transitioning away from Global Fund support is as much about ensuring that national systems are ready to assume responsibility for the programs the Fund used to support as it is about money. This was one of the conclusions of a dialogue on transitioning in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The regional program Elimination 8 is aiming for full malaria elimination in eight Southern African countries, starting with elimination in four “frontline” countries by 2020. 

The Developed Country NGO Delegation is seeking nominations for its representative on the Global Fund Board.

This is issue 272 of the GLOBAL FUND OBSERVER (GFO) Newsletter. Please send all suggestions for news items, commentaries or any other feedback to David Garmaise, GFO Editor (david.garmaise@aidspan.org). To subscribe to GFO, go to www.aidspan.org.

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