Release Type: News Article

GENEVA – In 2020, the Global Fund signed 157 grants for a total of US$8.54 billion for lifesaving HIV, Tuberculosis (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.”

The Global Fund has a total of US$12.71 billion available in funding allocations for the three-year funding cycle that runs from 2020-2022. Of these funds, the Global Fund had planned for US$8.9 billion in grants to be approved in 2020, with the remaining funds scheduled for later start dates. However, the Secretariat accelerated its grant-making efforts and exceeded the original target, approving US$9.2 billion of funding in 2020. As of 31 December 2020, US$8.54 of the approved grants had been signed and begin implementation this month; two countries were still in the process of signing the remaining finalized grants worth US$660 million.

“Even in the midst of a new global pandemic, during an extraordinarily challenging year, the Global Fund partnership has supported countries to develop grants more quickly and effectively than ever before,” said Donald Kaberuka, Global Fund Board Chair. “A record-breaking 67% of grants for the 2020-2022 funding cycle have now been signed, compared to 50% of grants signed at the same time in the last funding cycle, representing a remarkable increase in performance.”

In comparison, at the same time in the 2017-2019 funding cycle, the Global Fund had signed US$5.2 billion in grants out of a US$10.3 billion funding allocation.

Over the past year, the Global Fund has supported implementing partners and Country Coordinating Mechanisms (the committee of local community, government and health experts that develop and guide Global Fund-supported programs in a country) to develop detailed funding requests for programs to respond to the epidemics at the country level. As part of the Global Fund’s grant-making process, all funding requests are reviewed by an independent Technical Review Panel and then by the Grant Approvals Committee for quality and comprehensiveness before going to the Global Fund Board for final approval. Once the Global Fund and the implementing partners sign the grant, implementation of programs can begin.

The Global Fund is extremely appreciative of the continued support of donors for its core funding, as pledges made at the record-breaking Replenishment Conference in Lyon in October 2019 are converted into cash contributions. Sustaining funding levels for the fight against HIV, TB and malaria is vital at a moment when disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to reverse many years of progress against the three diseases.

On top of the new grants awarded to fight HIV, TB and malaria, the Global Fund has approved US$980 million in additional funding to 106 low- and middle-income countries and 14 multicountry programs to respond to COVID-19 in 2020. The Global Fund has estimated that it needs a further US$5 billion on top of its core funding to support countries in responding to the pandemic by reinforcing national COVID-19 responses; mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on lifesaving HIV, TB and malaria programs; and making urgent improvements to health and community systems.

UNAIDS has called on countries to make far greater investments in global pandemic responses and adopt a new set of bold, ambitious but achievable HIV targets for 2025.

An analysis was performed focused on available studies that have quantitatively measured the negative impact of stigma and discrimination and the criminalization of sex work, drug use and same-sex sexual relationships on HIV prevention, testing and treatment efforts.

The analysis suggests that failure to make any progress on HIV-related stigma and discrimination would undermine efforts to reach the HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression targets, resulting in an additional 440 000 AIDS-related deaths between 2020 and 2030, and that failure to make any progress across all societal enablers would undermine efforts to reach HIV prevention targets, resulting in 2.6 million additional new HIV infections over the same period.

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On Tuesday, Guyana recommitted itself to the Global AIDS Strategy, which hopes to end AIDS by 2030, launching a new National HIV Strategic Plan 2021- 2025.

The new plan puts Guyana on track with global momentum but sets achievable benchmarks for the country and strengthens its national HIV and AIDS response.

By 2025, Guyana hopes to reduce new HIV infections among key populations and other vulnerable groups by 95 percent.

Also, by 2025 all babies are expected to be born free of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), ending mother-to-child transmission.

Guyana wants to also reduce AIDS-related deaths by 95 percent within the next five years.

In the past seven years, the national fight against HIV and AIDS was guided by the National HIV Vision document, which came to an end last year.

During the virtual launch of the innovative and progressive plan to achieve epidemic control on Tuesday, Guyana also boasted being the first Caribbean country to achieve the First 90 of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals.

This means that at the end of 2020, 90% of all People Living with HIV in Guyana knew their status.

Guyana falls short on the other two indicators where 72 percent of Guyanese with a diagnosed HIV infection are on antiretroviral therapy and 75 percent of those receiving antiretroviral therapy being virally suppressed.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony acknowledged these shortcomings with the ambitious treatment target of 90 percent needed to be achieved.

Dr Anthony said while Guyana aspires to end AIDS by 2030, there are many other targets along the way.

He said Guyana had set its own target of 95 percent on several key indicators by 2025.

“There is a lot of underlying work that needs to be done to ensure the targets are met. While we fix exiting problems, we have to look to improve other targets,” he said.

The Minister said the political will exists to introduce a more comprehensive program with PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) – a medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV.

Guyana had only been making this medication available to couples where one partner has tested positive for HIV.  Dr Anthony now says that the country intends to make it available for all citizens who are considered at risk.

The Minister said policies would be put in place to push self-testing among the population.

The new National HIV Strategic Plan was developed, revised and finalized through a process that included all stakeholders over the past year. It commenced in January 2020.

Acknowledging that there has been little change in the epidemic over the last five years with a small decline in 2018, Consultant Dereck Springer said there is now a strong political commitment and enabling environment to accelerate the national AIDS response.

He said that while there have been achievements, the response is still faced with numerous challenges that the new strategy addresses.

Springer said there continues to be dysfunctional coordination, high levels of stigma and discrimination and frequent stock-outs of medication.

These shortcomings, he says, will be addressed in the new plan.

(Via Demerara Waves, Georgetown, Guyana)  Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Tuesday announced that Guyanese would be allowed to self-test for HIV and that more at-risk persons would be given preventative drugs.

“Another area we want to look at is self-testing. This is relatively new, and it has been advocated around the world, and some countries have implemented it with relatively good success.  This is one of the measures we would like to put in place here in Guyana,” he said.

The Health Minister gave no specific time-frame by which self-testing would start in Guyana.

He made the announcement in an address to stakeholders at the launch of the HIV National Strategic Plan, which aims to bridge past achievements to end the disease by 2030. The Minister also disclosed that Guyana would be submitting a proposal to the Global Fund for support to fight the disease.

The Health Minister said a “more comprehensive” Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme would be rolled out this year to build on the programme introduced last year to target couples, one of whom is HIV positive and the other is not. “We want to take that further so that anybody at risk can access PrEP.  Next year we will see a better roll-out of PrEP to ensure that this is at all of our clinics.  We will work with all stakeholders to ensure that this is also available with the services they provide,” he said.

Dr Anthony said Guyana has been suffering from a lag in two of the three areas identified globally by UNAIDS for bringing the disease under control.  This included knowing one’s status, receiving Antiretroviral Therapy and suppressing the disease by 2020.

He said statistics show that 94 percent of HIV positive persons in Guyana know their status, 73 percent of them have been tested and on treatment and the virus has been suppressed in 75 percent of them.  In that regard, he remarked that “we still have a lot of work to be done over the next five years”.

The Health Minister noted that weaknesses in the fight against HIV included stock-outs of reagents that have adversely affected testing, treatment and care. He hoped that this could be remedied through proper quantification by clinical staff and procurement. “While we fix existing problems, we also have to look forward to how we can improve and also use new methodologies to ensure that we can get to those targets by 2025,” he said.

Dr Anthony said “more effective” antiretroviral therapies were being rolled out along with co-morbidities such as Tuberculosis to fight other sexually transmitted diseases, including the Human-Papilloma Virus that causes Cervical Cancer.

4 December 2020 | GENEVA − The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has appointed Tracy Staines, a distinguished auditor and seasoned executive, as Inspector General. Staines brings over 20 years of multi-sectoral experience in audit and risk management, including eight years at the Global Fund.

Promoted to Head of Audit in 2015, she has been serving as the Acting Inspector General since August 2020, after the departure of former Inspector General Mouhamadou Diagne. Staines is the first woman to hold the position of Inspector General, which reports directly to the Board.

“We are pleased to name Tracy to this critical role,” said Dr Donald Kaberuka, Global Fund Board Chair.

“Tracy’s long experience, robust knowledge of the Global Fund, commitment to the mission and a strong sense of professionalism will be central to leading the Office of the Inspector General to support the organization in the evolving global health environment,” said Lady Roslyn Morauta, Vice-Chair of the Board.

An independent, well-resourced and transparent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is essential for the success of the Global Fund, Dr Kaberuka added. The Global Fund is committed to the highest standards of accountability in all matters, including the audits and investigations produced by the OIG. The Global Fund’s OIG is composed of 52 auditors, investigators, and other professional staff.

Staines replaces Mouhamadou Diagne, who announced in May 2020 that he would resign to take on the position of Vice-President of Integrity for the World Bank Group.

Staines’ appointment comes as a result of a robust global selection process that started in August 2020, led by a Board-appointed Inspector General Nomination Committee and supported by a search firm. A total of 145 applications were received by the application deadline of 11 September 2020, reflecting a diversity of gender, professional backgrounds and sector, and geographical locations. The Nomination Committee conducted a merit-based, competitive and apolitical process, informed by due diligence and background checks, and with due attention to diversity of candidate profiles, particularly diversity of gender, geographic background, and professional experience. Assessing candidates against Board-approved Terms of Reference, the Nomination Committee also paid particular attention to candidates’ track record with respect to Global Fund strategic issues including human rights and key populations affected by the three diseases.

During her tenure at the Global Fund, Staines has led an impactful audit unit, renowned for its solid, data-driven products. She has directed a comprehensive program of complex, high-profile reviews that have driven positive change, resulting in enhanced portfolio performance and significant improvements in accountability and risk management frameworks. She and her team have refocused the OIG’s annual assessment to maximize coverage of key risk areas including grant size, residual risk and disease burden. She leads on the delivery of a comprehensive annual opinion, setting out ambitious development areas, which have informed a series of enduring improvements at the Global Fund.

Staines has also led the development of an advisory capability within the OIG, evolving the unit into a value-adding strategic advisor. OIG advisory reports provide data-led and thoughtful analysis to senior management to drive improvements throughout the partnership. In addition, under her leadership, the OIG has cultivated strategic partnerships with Supreme Audit Institutions to build capacity and leverage local knowledge. She liaises closely with like-minded oversight functions and the United Nations Representatives of Internal Audit Services (UN-RIAS) community.

Prior to joining the Global Fund, Staines led audit and investigations teams at one of Europe’s largest banks and the UK Civil Service. She began her career with Deloitte, the world’s largest professional services firm, in London and Sydney. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a Chartered Internal Auditor and a qualified member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.

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Image: Participants of the Caribbean Congress on Adolescent and Youth Health (CCAYH), November 2019

Caribbean youth advocates have called for action on areas of priority for their peers with the launch of the Caribbean Roadmap for Adolescent and Youth Health:  Championing Our Wealth: Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Adolescents and Youth in the Caribbean.

Approximately two hundred Youth congress participants, including policymakers, international and regional partners were involved in three days of discussion in November 2019, which culminated with the launch of the Roadmap on Monday 19 October 2020.  The launch showcased the involvement of young advocates in the design, moderation and content of the event. It was hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health (Guyana), officially launched the Roadmap and commended the young people and partners for the collective wisdom encapsulated in the Roadmap. “I want to thank PAHO/WHO, CARICOM and UN Partners for their leadership in this process. I urge you to continue the advocacy for political prioritisation and the integration of these recommendations into national development plans.  While COVID-19 compounds the challenges before us, we have an opportunity of using this Roadmap to usher future generations into a cleaner and healthier Caribbean.  Can we do it? Yes, we can!” stated Dr Anthony.

Nothing for us, without us!

Five Caribbean youth advocates including Pierre Cooke Jnr., Christopher Gilkes, Michelle Belfor, Jean Sano Santana and Renatta Langlais, took part in the launch and focused their discussions on the four tracks contained in the Roadmap: mental health, substance use, violence and injuries; sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and STI; nutrition, physical activity, sports and youth development; and climate change and the environment.

The purpose of the Roadmap is to provide strategic guidance on actions Member States should take to address adolescent health in their local setting

Between April and September 2020, and amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic locally, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) Guyana has documented 30 cases in the Shared Incident Database (SID) with support from the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) through the multi-country Caribbean Global Fund Grant, “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in the Caribbean.” Among the documented cases, 30% involve cyber-bullying against women, girls, LGBTQ+ persons, Persons Living with HIV, and marginalised youth, as compared to 0 reported cases of cyber-bullying for the same period in 2019, under the SID project supported by CVC. Client intake, as well as counselling services, are now being done virtually to reduce the exposure risk to COVID-19. SASOD Guyana developed a protocol for virtual client intake and case management in keeping with the SID protocol, that was approved by CVC, considering the pandemic.

As at 31 October 2020, SASOD Guyana has resolved 70% of these 30 client cases for the 6-month period through referrals to pro-bono lawyers, filing and serving of restraining orders, seeking public assistance, land applications, securing emergency housing, permanent relocation, among other forms of redress.

In June 2020, SASOD Guyana launched a social media campaign dubbed #IssaCyberCrime to increase public knowledge on the Cyber Crime Act of Guyana, information on penalties for cyber offences, as well as support and access to justice for victims. This campaign, supported by the SID project, reached approximately 30,000 persons on social media between June and August 2020. Anecdotal evidence, especially feedback from new clients, indicates that this accessible form of human rights education allowed them to recognise cyber-crimes, know they are illegal and appreciate that redress and support services are available through SASOD Guyana. The campaign is especially critical since vulnerable populations find police processes very intimidating.

Written by Dr Nastassia Rambarran, Public Health Consultant, Researcher and Physician

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the ending of USAID/PEPFAR funding in Barbados to create a perfect storm of potentially huge disruption of HIV service provision by the key population-led civil society organisation, Equals Inc.

At the time, Equals, with USAID/PEPFAR funding and under a shared care paradigm with the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness, provided wide-reaching and national HIV and STI testing, treatment and HIV PrEP at their community site. With the onset of lockdown in late March, on-site services were shut down, but persons on PrEP and receiving antiretrovirals for treatment were followed up via phone calls and messaging by the Equals team, who arranged delivery of multi-month medication supplies, telemedicine consults and donated food hampers sourced from donations and an external grant.

Outreach workers intensified online engagement (which has always been a strong point of the organisation) and psychosocial counselling, which was especially needed, moved online. After approximately three months of lockdown, these measures enabled the site to reopen with testing uptake almost on par with pre-pandemic levels and continued alliance with the vulnerable community served.

Editor’s note: EQUALS is an LGBTQI+ organisation that helps communities to access services through rights-based advocacy. The goal of Equals is to educate and empower the LGBTQI+ community to foster unity by providing a safe, discrimination-free environment.  In this environment, Equals encourages safe sexual practices and access to services in areas such as sexual health, general health and mental health. Equals also serves as an educational outlet by providing general information that is catered to the community. In addition, Equals works to improve the quality of everyday life for the LGBTQI+ community by tackling stigma and discrimination through sensitisation training and human rights violations case recording. The organisation strives to achieve its goals through community empowerment, education, networking and rights-based advocacy.

For more information visit https://equalsbarbados.com/

10 August 2020

GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has launched a search for its next Inspector General.

A seven-member nomination committee will help the Board of the Global Fund select the next Inspector General. The Board welcomes all candidates with proven skills in leadership and strategic oversight, and from broad and diverse backgrounds.

Board Chair Donald Kaberuka said an independent, well-resourced and transparent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is more essential than ever for the success of the Global Fund as the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Global Fund is committed to the highest standards of accountability,” Kaberuka said. “As we help countries defeat COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on HIV, TB and malaria, it is essential to maintain the confidence of our donors and partners and the trust of the communities. Years of hard-won gains could be erased, and millions of lives among the most vulnerable communities are at risk.”

The OIG is an independent yet integral part of the Global Fund. Through audits, investigations and consultancy work, the OIG provides the Global Fund with independent and objective assurance over the design and effectiveness of controls in place to manage the key risks impacting the Global Fund’s programs and operations. The OIG reports on all its activities in the interest of transparency and accountability. The results of its audits and investigations are published on the Global Fund website.

Current Inspector General Mouhamadou Diagne informed the Board earlier this year that he was stepping down to take the position of vice-president of integrity for the World Bank Group.

During his more than five years as Inspector General, Diagne has led a 50-member team of audit and investigation professionals with expertise in risk management, internal controls and governance. The OIG implements a strategic and proactive approach to preventing fraud and misuse of funds, as recommended by the Board and its Audit and Finance Committee.

The Global Fund, the largest multilateral investor in grants for health systems, has saved more than 32 million lives and helped cut HIV, TB and malaria deaths by roughly half, disbursing US$45 billion to more than 100 countries. However, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse the extraordinary gains made by the Global Fund in the fight against the three diseases.

The Global Fund has reacted decisively to the emergence of COVID-19, quickly making available up to US$1 billion to support countries as they respond to the pandemic, adapt their HIV, TB and malaria programs, and reinforce their already overstretched health systems.

The nomination committee, with the support of an executive search firm, expects to interview the strongest candidates and to recommend a final candidate to the Board for appointment by November 2020. The Global Fund is working with the firm Egon Zehnder to assist with the search for an Inspector General. For more information on the position, qualifications, and requirements go to https://appointments.egonzehnder.com.

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Le Fonds Mondial se met en quête d’un Inspecteur général

10 août 2020

GENÈVE – Le Fonds mondial de lutte contre le sida, la tuberculose et le paludisme s’est mis en quête de son prochain Inspecteur général.

Un comité de nomination composé de sept membres aidera le Conseil d’administration du Fonds mondial à sélectionner le prochain Inspecteur général. Tous les candidats possédant des compétences avérées en leadership et en suivi stratégique sont invités à se manifester, quel que soit l’horizon dont ils sont issus.

Selon le président du Conseil d’administration Donald Kaberuka, le Fonds mondial a plus que jamais besoin d’un Bureau de l’Inspecteur général qui soit indépendant, transparent et doté de ressources suffisantes pour mener à bien sa mission, au moment où le monde entier riposte à la pandémie de COVID-19.

« Le Fonds mondial s’engage à respecter les normes de responsabilité les plus strictes », déclare M. Kaberuka. « Au moment où nous aidons les pays à lutter contre le COVID-19 et à en atténuer les effets sur le VIH, la tuberculose et le paludisme, il est impératif de préserver la confiance de nos donateurs, de nos partenaires et des communautés. Des années d’avancées obtenues de haute lutte pourraient être anéanties et des millions de vies au sein des communautés les plus vulnérables sont exposées au risque. »

Le Bureau de l’Inspecteur général est une entité indépendante du Fonds mondial, mais qui en fait néanmoins partie intégrante. Au travers d’audits, d’enquêtes et d’activités de consultance, il fournit au Fonds mondial une assurance indépendante et objective sur la conception et l’efficacité des contrôles mis en place afin de gérer les principaux risques qui menacent les programmes et les activités du Fonds mondial. Le Bureau de l’Inspecteur général rend compte de toutes ses activités dans un souci de transparence et de responsabilité. Les résultats de ses audits et enquêtes sont publiés sur le site web du Fonds mondial.

En début d’année, l’actuel Inspecteur général Mouhamadou Diagne a informé le Conseil d’administration qu’il allait quitter ses fonctions afin de prendre la vice-présidence Intégrité du Groupe de la Banque mondiale.

Pendant plus de cinq années à la tête du Bureau de l’Inspecteur général, M. Diagne a dirigé une équipe de 50 auditeurs et enquêteurs, spécialistes de la gestion des risques, des contrôles internes et de la gouvernance. Le Bureau de l’Inspecteur général adopte une démarche stratégique et volontariste en matière de prévention des fraudes et des détournements de fonds, conformément aux recommandations du Conseil d’administration et de son Comité d’audit et des finances.

Premier investisseur multilatéral en faveur des systèmes de santé au travers de subventions, le Fonds mondial a sauvé plus de 32 millions de vies et contribué à réduire de près de moitié les décès dus au VIH, à la tuberculose et au paludisme, décaissant 45 milliards de dollars US à plus de cent pays. Cependant, la pandémie de COVID-19 menace d’inverser les progrès extraordinaires enregistrés par le Fonds mondial face aux trois maladies.

Le Fonds mondial a fermement réagi à l’émergence du COVID-19 et a rapidement mis à disposition un milliard de dollars US afin d’aider les pays à lutter contre la pandémie, adapter leurs programmes de riposte au VIH, à la tuberculose et au paludisme, et renforcer leurs systèmes de santé déjà débordés.

Avec le concours d’une agence de recrutement de cadres, le Comité de nomination s’entretiendra avec les meilleurs candidats et espère recommander un nom au Conseil d’administration au plus tard en novembre 2020. À ces fins, il a fait appel à l’agence Egon Zehnder. Pour de plus amples informations sur le poste, les qualifications et les compétences requises, rendez-vous sur https://appointments.egonzehnder.com.

Image: Mr Jairo Valverde, UNDP’s Resident Representative, hands over food items to Dr Rhonda Moore, Director of the NAPS and Mr Joel Simpson, Manager Director of SASOD

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday said it has provided $5.6 million worth of food items to make available nutritional support to Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) and members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender plus (LGBT+) community in Guyana.

“PLHIV and LGBT+ persons are among the most vulnerable and marginalized in any society. At the time of COVID-19 and its mandatory containment measures, the challenges facing these groups are further exacerbated. Given their overrepresentation in the informal labour market, they are faced with increased food insecurity and livelihood challenges,” the UNDP said in a statement.

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) and Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) are partnering with UNDP to ensure that much-needed relief is delivered to individuals and households from key population groups in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The NAPS will also pair the delivery of food items with the distribution of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to PLHIV to ensure that persons are still accessing and following their treatment while at the same time boosting and maintaining or supporting a strong immune system.

While receiving the food items, Director of the NAPS, Dr. Rhonda Moore, noted that UNDP’s support is part of a wider initiative to address food insecurity for members of the PLHIV key populations. In expressing appreciation, she noted that NAPS is partnering with several Civil Society Organizations to reach persons across Guyana and UNDP’s support will specifically target families as against individuals, especially where key population members are expected to contribute to their households.

Managing Director of SASOD, Mr Joel Simpson, noted that UNDP was one of the first international partners to respond to the needs of the LGBT+ community by supporting a socio-economic needs assessment of the LGBT+ population. The findings from that study were shared with key partners and would help to support fundraising efforts to respond to the impact of COVID-19.

Resident Representative, Mr Jairo Valverde, noted that UNDP is very happy to support vulnerable groups, who are affected disproportionately, as this is key to the United Nations mandate of leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first.