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History of the GFAMT


History of the Global Fund



The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created in 2002 to raise, manage and invest the world’s money to respond to three of the deadliest infectious diseases the world has ever known. The mission of the Global Fund is to invest the world’s money to defeat these three diseases.
The idea for the Global Fund arose from a wellspring of grass-roots political advocacy coming face-to-face with the imperatives of global leadership. AIDS, TB and malaria are all preventable and treatable – but solving this problem requires the commitment not only of world leaders and decision-makers but also of those working on the ground to help the men, women and children living with these diseases.
The idea was discussed at a G8 summit in Okinawa, Japan, in 2000. The real commitment began to coalesce at the African Union summit in April 2001, continued at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session in June of that year, and was finally endorsed by the G8 at their summit in Genoa in July 2001. A Transitional Working Group was established to determine the principles and working modalities of the new organization, and the Global Fund came into being in January 2002.

A brief overview of milestones in the Global Fund’s history:

2000

AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria together cause more than 4 million deaths per year.


2001

Transitional Working Group established.


2002

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is constituted as a private Swiss foundation hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the First Board Meeting. Secretariat established in Geneva, Switzerland.
Round 1 Call for Proposals launched. Second Board Meeting held. Approval of Round 1 for a total amount of US$600 million for 36 countries.
Round 2 Call for Proposals is launched. Dr Richard Feachem (UK) is selected as Executive Director. Third Board Meeting held in Geneva.
The Global Fund makes its first disbursement of US$1 million.

2003

Fourth Board Meeting held. Board approves Round 2 – US$900 million in grants to 72 countries.
Round 3 Call for Proposals is launched. Fifth Board Meeting held. Total disbursements to countries surpass US$100 million.
Sixth Board Meeting held in Chiang Mai, Thailand (first Board Meeting held in an implementing country). Board approves Round 3 – more than US$600 million for 61 countries. Disbursements at the end of 2003 total US$232 million.


2004

Seventh Board Meeting held in Geneva. Round 4 Call for Proposals is launched.
Eighth Board Meeting held in Geneva. Board approves Round 4 grants totaling US$968 million for 69 grants in 50 countries.
Ninth Board Meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania (first Board Meeting held in Africa).

2005

Launch of Round 5 Call for Proposals. Tenth Board Meeting held in Geneva. Eleventh Board Meeting held in Geneva; Round 5 proposals are approved for US$382 million for 26 grants in 20 countries. Twelfth Board Meeting held in Marrakech, Morocco. Board votes to fully fund Round 5, bringing the total allocated for new grants to US$719 million. At 31 December, US$1.9 billion has been disbursed.


2006

Thirteenth Board Meeting held in Geneva. The Round 6 Call for Proposals is launched. Dr. Feachem’s term is completed. The Board selects Prof Michel Kazatchkine (France) as Executive Director.
Results include:
•770,000 people on ARVs;
•2 million people treated for TB;
•18 million insecticide-treated nets delivered.
US$1.9 billion has been disbursed.

2007

Fifteenth Board Meeting held in Geneva. Sixteenth Board Meeting held in Kunming, China. Board approves 73 grants in Round 7 of funding for a total of US$1.1 billion, bringing total number of countries supported to 136. The Global Fund’s Second Replenishment concludes with a total amount of US$9.7 billion pledged for the period 2008-2010. Board approves 73 grants in Round 7 of funding for a total of US$1.1 billion, bringing total number of countries supported to 136.
Results include:
  • 1.4 million people on antiretrovirals;
  • 3.3 million people treated for TB;
  • 46 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.

2008

Round 8 Call for Proposals launched. Seventeenth Board Meeting held in Geneva. Eighteenth Board Meeting held in New Delhi, India. Board approves 94 Round 8 grants for a total value of US$2.75 billion – the highest amount ever approved. Round 9 Call for Proposals launched. Ended Administrative Services Agreement with WHO and became an autonomous organization.
Results include:
  • 2 million people on antiretrovirals;
  • 4.6 million people treated for TB;
  • 70 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.
Donor contributions in 2008 total US$3 billion.

2009

The Nineteenth Board Meeting takes place in Geneva. Twentieth Board Meeting takes place in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Board approves Round 9 grants for a total value of US$2.4 billion.
Results include:
  • 2.5 million people on antiretrovirals;
  • 6 million people treated for TB;
  • 104 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.
Donor contributions in 2009 total US$3.2 billion.

2010

The preparatory meeting for the Third Replenishment is held in The Hague, Netherlands. Global Fund launches its Born HIV Free campaign, in support of efforts to implement prevention of mother-to-child transmission services.
At a meeting at the United Nations in New York, donors pledge US$9.2 billion in support for the Third Replenishment period 2011-2013.

2011

News reports cite misused funds by sub-recipients of grants by the Global Fund in four countries. A High-Level Panel convened to examine the Global Fund’s financial oversight and risk management.
High-Level Panel issues a report calling for structural changes in the Global Fund’s business model and specific improvements in management practices and financial oversight. Board decides to suspend Round 11 due to shortage of available funding and to implement changes to the funding model in order to make it more strategic, more predictable and more responsive.
Results include:
  • 3.3 million people on ARVs;
  • 8.6 million people treated for TB;
  • 230 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.
Donor contributions in 2011 total US$3 billion.

2012

Gabriel Jaramillo, a former banker and turnaround expert, begins a one-year term as General Manager to oversee a comprehensive transformation of the organization. Prof Michel Kazatchkine resigns as Executive Director. Transformation realigns workforce with a sharp increase in staff working on core business of grant management, and a special focus on high-impact countries, along with a corresponding decrease in staff in support functions.
At its Twenty-sixth Meeting, in Geneva, the Board reviewed available funding.
The Twenty-seventh Board Meeting was held in Geneva to consider elements of the proposed new funding model as well as the Affordable Medicines Facility – malaria initiative.
During the Twenty-eighth Board Meeting, held in Geneva, the Board approved the new funding model. Board selects Dr Mark Dybul (U.S.) as the Global Fund’s third Executive Director.
Results include:
  • 4.2 million people on ARVs;
  • 9.7 million people treated for TB;
  • 310 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.
Donor contributions in 2012 total US$3.2 billion.

2013

The Global Fund transitions into its new funding model by inviting select early applicants and interim applicants to submit concept notes for funding. At a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, the Global Fund launches its Fourth Replenishment, seeking financing for the period 2014-2016.
The Twenty-ninth Board Meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Among other decisions, the Board appointed a new Inspector General.
The Board awards grants to the first three countries to receive funding under the new funding model.
Thirtieth Board Meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland. Topics of discussion include the renewal of committee leadership and key performance indicators for the organization.
The Global Fund’s Fourth Replenishment, is hosted by the Obama administration at the White House and launches the 2014-2016 replenishment cycle with a total amount of US$12 billion pledged.
Results include:
  • 6.1 million people on antiretrovirals;
  • 11.2 million people treated for TB;
360 million insecticide-treated nets distributed.

The New Funding Model is critically important to the implementation of the Global Fund strategy. It has been designed to help the Global Fund invest resources more strategically, draw on partnerships to increase the quality of the programs it supports and incorporate lessons learned from the previous rounds-based system of funding. The new funding model enables the Global Fund, among other things, to:
  • Establish a more cooperative and iterative process in terms of the interactions between the Secretariat and implementers, partners and other donors;
  • Leverage more effectively the funding and expertise of other organizations;
  • Create processes that are more flexible, and more aligned with the priorities and strategic direction of those who implement grants;
  • Allow the Board to re-balance and give strategic direction to the organization’s portfolio of investments; 
  • Focus funding on those countries with the highest needs and least ability to pay, while remaining global, and supporting the highest-impact interventions;
  • Increase the Global Fund’s ability to support national programs, and continue to accommodate specific circumstances where project support is most appropriate;
  • Provide incentives for both the creation of robust national disease and/or health sector strategies (national strategies) and investment cases, as well as the full expression of an applicant's quality demand.

Key Features of the New Funding Model:

  • Flexible timeline: Eligible countries may apply whenever desired during the three- year allocation period so that funding can be aligned with national budgeting cycles and country-specific demands. 
  • Simplicity of the funding application process - Eligible countries are encouraged to base their request to the Global Fund on their national strategy or investment case. A streamlined concept note, developed through multipartner consultations, will be used to present the request to the Global Fund. 
  • Predictability of overall process: Early feedback aims to ensure general agreement on the strategic direction of the program/project, to reduce waiting time and to improve the overall success rates of applications. Early discussion of indicative funding provides more predictability. Improved predictability of level of funding Instead of the "rounds-based" system where countries competed for funds, applicants know how much funding they may receive for indicative funding and compete only for incentive funding. 
  • Indicative funding: An indicative funding amount is derived from an allocation formula for each country and communicated to applicants at the start of the three-year period. 
  • Incentive funding: A separate reserve of funding will reward high-impact, well-performing programs and encourage ambitious requests. 
  • Unfunded quality demand: Countries are strongly encouraged to submit ambitious concept notes. Funding requested through a concept note which is considered technically sound by the Technical Review Panel but above the funding amount available (indicative funding and any additional incentive funding awarded) is registered for possible funding by the Global Fund or other donors if and when new resources become available. 
  • Focus on high disease burden and low resources: The new model allows the Global Fund to focus on countries with the highest disease burden and least ability to pay while still retaining the Global Fund’s global reach. 
  • Enhanced engagement: The Global Fund Secretariat engages more proactively in ongoing country-level dialogue, and provides early feedback prior to Board approval of grants.

2014

Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Board Members finalize key elements of the new funding model, set aside money for various special initiatives and appoint committee members at the Thirty-First Board Meeting.
The UK charity Comic Relief announces that it has raised £2 million for the Global Fund.
Working with partners, the Global Fund announces new framework contracts with a group of selected suppliers of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), the international standard for treating malaria. It is estimated that the agreements will save partners more than US$100 million over two years through price reductions.
The Thirty-Second Board Meeting is held in Montreux, Switzerland. The Board discusses a plan to reform its governance structure as well as risk management issues.
The Board appoints Mouhamadou Diagne (Senegal) as Inspector General.

2015

At its Thirty-Third Meeting, the Board selects Norbert Hauser (Germany) to serve as its next Chair and Aida Kurtovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) as Vice-Chair.
The Global Fund launches an online platform as a key element for the development of its 2017-2022 strategy.
To ensure that human rights under Global Fund-supported programs are respected, a new process for reporting any violations is launched.
The first of three Partnership Forums is held in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Participants debated a number of key issues related to the Global Fund’s strategy, including gender issues, key populations and sustainability.
The second Partnership Forum is held in Bangkok, Thailand with more than 100 participants.

2016

In April Thirty-Fifth Board Meeting is held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Board approves the 2017-2022 strategy, Investing to End Epidemics.
Pledging conference for Global Fund's Fifth Replenishment is held in September in Montréal, Canada, hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Donor countries, foundations, and private donors pledge US$12.9 billion for the 2017-2019 period.
At its Thirty-Sixth Meeting, held in November Montreux, Switzerland, the Board launched its search for a new executive director, as Mark Dybul's term will finish in May 2017. The Board also approved the allocations to countries for 2017-2019.

2017

At its Thirty-Seventh Meeting in May, the Board of the Global Fund took significant steps toward increasing impact and maximizing effectiveness in its goal of ending epidemics, which will achieve greater health security and long-term prosperity. The Board addressed numerous issues on how to continue to expand prevention, treatment and care for people affected by HIV, TB and malaria in the coming years.
The Board selected Aida Kurtović as its new Chair, after serving as Vice-Chair for the past two years. The Board also selected Ambassador John Simon as incoming Vice-Chair.
In December WHO and the Global Fund signed cooperation and financing agreements amounting to an estimated US$50 million, with the aim of providing vital technical support to countries to fight HIV, TB and malaria, and securing additional progress toward universal health coverage.

2018

In May, the Board, at its Thirty-Eighth Board meeting, highlighted the importance of strengthening sustainability and supporting successful transition to domestic financing to build long-term solutions and achieve greater health security.
The Global Fund honors the memory and enormous contributions of Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Annan died in Switzerland on 18 August 2018.
The report has been released demonstrating that 27 million lives have been saved by the Global Fund partnership. The Results Report 2018 includes key annual results achieved in countries where the Global Fund invests:
  • 17.5 million people received antiretroviral therapy for HIV.
  • 5 million people tested and treated for TB.
  • 197 million mosquito nets distributed to prevent malaria.
At the Board’s Fortieth meeting, partners discussed the Global Fund’s main priority for 2019: its next Replenishment, to be hosted by France in October 2019. The Board reviewed essential elements in making the case for greater investment in health, as well as mobilization campaign plans, to be discussed at greater detail at a Preparatory Replenishment meeting in New Delhi, India, in February 2019.

2019

The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved an allocation approach to maximize the impact of investments to end the epidemics and to build resilient and sustainable systems for health, stepping up efforts for the next three-year funding period. At the Board’s 41st meeting, members approved a methodology for allocation and for catalytic investments in the 2020-2022 period, to focus funding on countries with the highest disease burden and lowest economic capacity, and accounting for key and vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by HIV, TB and malaria.

In an unprecedented show of global solidarity, donors at the Global Fund's Sixth Replenishment Conference pledged US$14.02 billion for the next three years – the largest amount ever raised for a multilateral health organization, and the largest amount by the Global Fund. The funds will help save 16 million lives and end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 2030.

The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved funding decisions for ambitious investments over the next three-year period to significantly increase impact against HIV, TB and malaria and to build resilient and sustainable systems for health. At the Board’s 42nd meeting, coming one month after a successful Sixth Replenishment that secured pledges of over US$14 billion for 2020-2022, Board members expressed appreciation for the collective efforts that led to such a strong mobilization of resources, calling it a compelling affirmation of commitment toward achieving greater social justice all over the world. Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, expressed determination to use the unprecedented level of resources to maximum effect, within a coordinated approach by partners to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3, good health and well-being, with a special focus on reaching the most vulnerable people so that no one is left behind in efforts to end epidemics.

2020

Global Fund Issues New Guidance in Response to COVID-19 - The Global Fund announced new guidance to enable countries to strengthen their response to the new coronavirus, COVID-19, by using existing grants in a swift, nimble and pragmatic way. Working within its mandate to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and to strengthen systems for health, the Global Fund issued new guidelines to provide flexibility for countries to use up to 5% of approved grants to fight COVID-19 and to mitigate the potential consequences of the pandemic on existing programs to fight HIV, TB and malaria.
Global Fund Partners Unite to Fight - The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria unanimously approved a new response mechanism to support countries to respond to COVID-19 and mitigate the impact on programs to fight HIV, TB, malaria and systems for health, effectively doubling the amount of available funding to up to US$1 billion. The COVID-19 Response Mechanism authorizes funding of US$500 million and comes in addition to up to US$500 million in grant flexibilities that were announced by the Global Fund earlier and are already being implemented by 54 countries.

A new report by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a call to action to urgently invest to protect decades of progress against HIV, TB and malaria that are being derailed as a knock-on effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report released, the Global Fund partnership has saved 38 million lives since 2002, including 6 million in 2019 alone. This represents a 20 percent increase in the number of lives saved compared to the previous year – remarkable progress resulting from increased efficiencies in service delivery, success in finding and treating more people with lifesaving medicine, cost savings on health products, and improved collaboration across the Global Fund partnership. Overall, deaths caused by AIDS, TB and malaria each year have been reduced by nearly 50% since the peak of the epidemics in countries where the Global Fund invests.

The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria met virtually for the 44th Board meeting this week to discuss the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, development of the next Global Fund strategy and progress in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. Held in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has caused more than 50 million cases and 1.27 million deaths, the Board commended the Global Fund’s rapid and thorough response to the COVID-19 crisis while at the same time protecting progress on the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, stressed the need to increase funding and expand the response to fight COVID-19, reinforce systems for health, and get back on track to end HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics by 2030.

The Global Fund has awarded nearly US$1 billion to 106 countries to support their responses to COVID-19, but has now fully deployed all its funding for this purpose. There are significant further needs for immediate funding, including for personal protective equipment (PPE), testing and treatment, and to mitigate the impact on lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria programs. Unfunded country requests for support now amount to over US$355 million. In response to COVID-19 the Global Fund has awarded an additional US$980 million to 106 low- and middle-income countries and 14 multi-country programs in 2020. The final US$41.5 million was approved yesterday evening. The awards for COVID-19 are on top of the approximately US$4 billion the Global Fund has invested in its core HIV, TB and malaria programs this year.

Global Fund signs a record-breaking $8.54 billion in grants to fight HIV, TB and malaria - In 2020, the Global Fund signed 157 grants for a total of US$8.54 billion for lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria programs and to strengthen systems for health. This is the highest amount of grants ever signed in a single year by the Global Fund. The grants will begin implementation this month. “This is an exceptional achievement that will help more than 100 countries continue the critical fight against HIV, TB and malaria – epidemics that kill more than 2.3 million people every year,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “As the COVID-19 pandemic overwhelms health systems around the world, it is now more important than ever that we ensure countries have the resources they need to fight HIV, TB and malaria and to strengthen the systems for health needed to respond to all four diseases.”