Dear colleagues, welcome to this issue of the Global Fund Observer.

The most burning issue is, of course, the forthcoming Global Fund Strategy Narrative development. As we enter this exciting and all-important phase, we at GFO have managed to get hold of the draft document (only for internal use, not circulated externally) and we provide you with a guide to the Strategy, plus our own take on it (

First look: the new Global Fund Strategy Narrative

). This article should be read in conjunction with our third article,

The Global Fund’s evolving objective of Pandemic Preparedness and Response

, where we look at more depth at one argument ‘Pro’ and one’ Con’ this so-called evolving objective in the Strategy.

We continue to cover experiences with developing COVID-19 Response Mechanism grants from the dual perspective of those providing the technical assistance, with our fifth and sixth articles in the series (

Innovative technical support to countries’ Global Fund COVID-19 mitigation proposals provides directions for future assistance

) and the countries who have to navigate the new templates and Modular Framework to turn around an in-depth proposal in a very short amount of time, this time with a focus on Kenya (

Procurement challenges hampered the implementation of COVID-19 Response Mechanism grants

). We also interview a key member of the COVID-19 Response Secretariat in the Democratic Republic of Congo (

Four questions to Dr. Mukendi, member of the COVID-19 Response

) to see how the DRC has addressed coping with many epidemics all at once and what lessons can be learnt.

We also have our usual summary of the latest report from the Officer of the Inspector General; this time focusing on a civil society organization in Namibia (

OIG investigation report on a Global Fund Grant in Namibia

). Plus, an interview with a staff member from BACKUP Health on the expansion of its work from the Global Fund into other Global Health Initiatives (

GIZ BACKUP Health strengthens its focus on health systems and evolves to meet the demand

).

As usual, we ask that if you enjoy the GFO and find it relevant to your work, please encourage your colleagues to subscribe!

Don’t forget: if you are aware of an interesting development relevant to disease programs or health systems and that you feel is worthy of global discussion, do let me know together with the name of a person prepared to write about this. Suggestions and comments can be sent to us in English, French or Spanish. You can find me, the GFO’s interim editor, through my email, christelle.boulanger@aidspan.org.

Christelle Boulanger