Main Decisions Made at Board Meeting
Author:
David Garmaise
Article Type:Article Number: 1
ABSTRACT This article provides a summary of the main decisions made by the Global Fund Board at its 30th meeting in Geneva on 7–8 November 2013.
On 7–8 November 2013, the Global Fund Board held its 30th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. GFO was present, with observer status. The main decisions made at the meeting, in chronological order, were as follows. (For precise wording of what the Board agreed, see the decision points document that has been posted here. Background documentation will also, in time, be posted by the Global Fund at the same location.)
Revised whistleblowing policy. The Board approved revised Whistle-Blowing Policy and Procedures. The revised policy contains measures to enhance the protection of whistle-blowers against retaliation. In addition, an item has been added to the list of examples of misconduct that should be reported: violations of human rights in relation to Global Fund–supported programmes. [See Decision Point 4.] See also separate GFO article here.
Revised eligibility criteria. The Board approved a new Eligibility and Counterpart Financing Policy to replace the old Eligibility, Counterpart Financing and Prioritization Policy. In addition to removing the section on prioritisation, which is no longer relevant under the new funding model, the most significant modifications have to do with countries becoming newly eligible or newly ineligible as a result of changes in income level or disease burden. The Board also decided that the Strategy, Investment and Impact Committee will initiate a process that will produce, by the end of 2014, options and recommendations for refining the Global Fund’s approach to transitioning countries. (“Transitioning countries” refers to countries that become newly ineligible.) The Board further decided that this approach will include consideration of public health indicators to measure progress in sustaining and enhancing gains against the three diseases. [See Decision Point 5.] See also separate GFO article here.
Operating expenses budget. The Board delegated to the Finance and Operational Performance Committee the authority to approve an operating expense budget for the first quarter of 2014, with the proviso that this budget will not exceed the amount of the first quarter budget for 2013 ($77.4 million). The full 2014 operating expenses budget will be presented to the Board at its next meeting in February 2014. [See Decision Point 6.]
Key Performance indicators. The Board approved revised corporate key performance indicators for 2014–2016. There are 16 indicators in all, covering operational performance, grant performance, systems effects and impact. Acknowledging that further work is required to extend the scope of certain indicators, the Board decided that the Secretariat will submit indicator revisions for approval by the Board, and that a complete KPI framework, including baselines for each measure, will be finalised by June 2014, subject to certain exceptions. In addition, the Board decided that indicator results should be complemented by sex and age disaggregated data where feasible. [See Decision Point 7.] See also separate GFO article here.
Committee leadership. The Board approved the following appointments for two-year terms, effective 1 March 2014 – As Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Finance and Operational Performance Committee: Soltan Mammadov (Eastern Europe and Central Asia constituency) and Jason Lawrence (US constituency); as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Strategy, Investment and Impact Committee: David Stevenson (Canada/Switzerland constituency) and Anita Asiimwe (Eastern and Southern Africa constituency); and as Vice-Chair of the Audit and Ethics Committee (AEC): Claude Rubinowicz (France constituency). [See Decision Point 8.]
