START WORKING ON ROUND 10 PROPOSALS NOW

Author:

Bernard Rivers

Article Type:

Article Number: 1

ABSTRACT Round 10 is expected to be launched next month, and applicants will likely have only three months to submit their proposals, instead of the usual four months.

The Global Fund is expected to issue a call for proposals for its tenth round of funding shortly. The exact date of the launch will be decided at the next Board meeting, scheduled for 28-30 April 2010. The Fund’s website says that the launch date is expected to be in May, and adds that the expected closing date will be in August, meaning that applicants will have only three months in which to submit proposals, rather than the usual four months.

For Round 10, there will be some changes to the proposal form and Guidelines for Proposals, compared to the versions used for Rounds 8 and 9. It is expected that most of the changes will be more cosmetic than substantive. However, for the first time, applicants may choose to submit a “consolidated” proposal, presumably using a modified proposal form, rather than a “regular” proposal. A consolidated proposal is one where the applicant is seeking additional funding for a particular disease, but also wishes to combine this money with already-approved funding from existing grants for the same disease and the same PR(s). This is in line with the Global Fund’s decision to move towards a single stream of funding per disease per PR. (Consolidated proposals will become mandatory when Round 11 is launched.)

Whether they are planning to submit a consolidated proposal or a regular proposal, potential applicants should be working on their Round 10 proposals now. In the past few rounds, having four months to develop a proposal was never really enough time, especially given the requirement to consult widely among interested stakeholders, both inside and outside the CCM, about the content of the proposal. Having only three months to prepare a Round 10 proposal will make the timing even tighter.

There is no need to wait until the Round 10 proposal form and Guidelines for Proposals are released before starting to develop a proposal. Applicants that wait could be at a disadvantage compared with those that start now or that have already started. Designing the programme for which funding is being sought (including inviting submissions from stakeholders) is by far the biggest piece of work. Applicants can do this work without any forms. However, if they so choose, applicants can use the Round 9 forms (available at www.theglobalfund.org/en/rounds/9) to help design their programme, and can transfer the data to the Round 10 forms when they become available.

Aidspan will produce a “Guide to Round 10 Applications to the Global Fund,” but part or all of that guide won’t be available until shortly after the Round 10 launch date.

Applicants that would like to get a head start preparing their proposal can refer to “The Aidspan Guide to Round 8 Applications to the Global Fund,” particularly the first volume. “Volume 1: Getting a Head Start” provides information and guidance to help potential applicants decide whether or not to apply, and, if they decide to apply, to assist them with the proposal development process (including the process of soliciting in-country submissions for possible inclusion in the national proposal). Volume 1 also discusses factors for potential applicants to consider if they plan to submit a regional or non-CCM proposal. “Volume 2: The Applications Process and the Proposal Form” outlines the application process and provides step-by-step guidance on how to fill out the Round 8 proposal form. Volume 2 is available in two versions, one for single-country applicants and one for multi-country applicants.

(Aidspan did not produce a guide for Round 9 because the proposal form and Guidelines for Round 9 were almost identical to those used for Round 8.)

Potential Round 10 applicants should also consult the “Aidspan Report: Key Strengths of Round 8 and 9 Proposals to the Global Fund,” which provides information on key attributes of a strong proposal. The report is based on an analysis of the strengths of all approved Round 8 and 9 proposals, as identified by the Technical Review Panel (TRP). Finally, potential applicants may wish to use the Aidspan Documents for In-Country Submissions. These documents, which are designed to assist CCMs with the process of soliciting in-country submissions, include a sample submission template.

“The Aidspan Guide to Round 8 Applications to the Global Fund” is available in English, French and Spanish at www.aidspan.org/guides. The “Aidspan Report: Key Strengths of Round 8 and 9 Proposals to the Global Fund” and the Aidspan Documents for In-Country Submissions are available in English, French, Spanish and Russian at www.aidspan.org/aidspanpublications.