The Global Fund is expecting a rush of applications in 2014 for the full roll-out of the new funding model. In his report for the Board meeting held on 7–8 November, Executive Director Mark Dybul said that in 2014 the Secretariat expects to sign grants for about half of the disease components for the entire 2014–2016 allocation period.

The Secretariat is gearing up to handle the additional workload. It is seconding some staff from partner organisations, and creating what it calls “temporary surge teams.”

In addition, eight different training modules for Secretariat staff are being rolled out. These include modules on the country dialogue; counterpart financing; investing strategically; the concept note and modular templates; and grant making and implementation.

Dr Dybul said that the grant agreements for the first three early applicants – El Salvador, Myanmar and Zimbabwe – were signed within three weeks of Board approval of the funding. He added that the entire process, from announcement of the funding allocations to grant signing, took just over four months. Dr Dybul cautioned, however, that the Secretariat won’t likely be able to maintain this pace in 2014 when concept notes are submitted in large numbers.

Dr Dybul said that the Secretariat will sign agreements with partner organisations to provide technical support for stakeholders involved in the country dialogue and concept note development processes. “The scope of support currently under discussion includes priority issues such as sub-national and sub-population epidemiological information, reviewing national strategic plans and operationalizing new normative guidance.” He said. “ It will also involve support networks of key affected populations to ensure that those groups play a strong role in country dialogues.”

In his report, Dr Dybul said, “Implementation of the new funding model is the largest, most complex change process the Global Fund has ever undertaken, requiring not just new forms, policies and processes, but also quite significant shifts in our culture, and in what is required of all stakeholders, including implementers, partners and the Secretariat.”

Information for this article was taken from Board Document GF-B30-03, “Report of the Executive Director.” This document should be available shortly at www.theglobalfund.org/en/board/meetings/thirtieth. See additional articles on the ED report here and here.