NEW MANUAL RELEASED ON HOW FBOS CAN ENGAGE WITH THE GLOBAL FUND

Author:

Bernard Rivers

Article Type:

Article Number: 5

ABSTRACT Three organisations have jointly launched a new manual on how faith-based organisations (FBOs) can interact with the Global Fund. The manual says that although FBOs have historically played a central role in the provision of healthcare in the developing world, FBOs do not know enough about the Global Fund and have a hard time engaging with Fund structures.

Three organisations have jointly launched a new manual on how faith-based organisations (FBOs) in developing countries can interact with the Global Fund. “Engaging With The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – A Primer for Faith-Based Organizations” was produced by Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; World Vision; and Christian Connections for International Health.

The manual says that although FBOs have historically played a central role in the provision of healthcare in the developing world, including 40 percent of all health services in Africa, FBOs do not know enough about the Global Fund and have a hard time engaging with Fund structures. The authors say that the manual was designed to serve as a “preliminary guide” for FBOs – and other community-based organizations (CBOs) – to learn about the Global Fund’s history, structure and policies; and to increase FBOs’ level of understanding of, and participation in, the Global Fund grant process.

The manual contains three chapters. Chapter One provides a general overview of the Global Fund, including its history, founding principles and operating structures. Chapter Two suggests different ways to interact with the Global Fund, including engaging with members of the Global Fund Board, serving as a member of a CCM, and serving as a Principal Recipient (PR) or Sub-Recipient (SR). Chapter Three focuses on the programme design and proposal development process, and includes recommendations for how to generate a successful proposal.

The manual contains some useful case studies (the manual refers to them as “success stories”) of FBOs participating in Global Fund processes in various capacities. The case studies describe the experience of four FBOs who have served as PRs, SRs and implementing agencies for Global Fund grants. It also describes the experience of an international FBO, World Vision, which serves as PR and SR in a number of countries and which also has representatives on several CCMs.

In addition, the manual contains some helpful guidance on how to navigate the Global Fund website.

The report will be particularly useful to FBOs because of the important role FBOs play in Global Fund processes – for example, FBOs constitute one of the distinct sectors that the Global Fund recommends be represented on CCMs. Many parts of the manual will also be of interest to NGOs – particularly the section on how to engage with the Fund, and the case studies.

“FBOs provide tremendous rural health and orphan care and support in many parts of the developing world,” said Dr. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund, in a foreword to the report. “Recognizing the unique advantages of FBOs, the Global Fund encourages increased participation by FBOs, both as recipients and as members of CCMs.”

The report is available on the Friends of the Global Fight website at www.theglobalfight.org/FBO.htm.