THE GLOBAL FUND LAUNCHES ITS 6TH PARTNERSHIP FORUMS

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Download PDF Almost 20 years after its creation in 2002, the Global Fund partnership has saved over 38 million lives, is helping to turn the tide on the HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria epidemics, has supported efforts to build national and community systems for health, address gender inequalities and reduce human rights barriers to health. However, with less than 10…

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Article Number: 8

ABSTRACT The Global Fund's 6th Partnerships Forums, that bring together civil society and other stakeholders to discuss what they would like to see in the next Global Fund Strategy, was launched 'virtually' on 2 February.

Almost 20 years after its creation in 2002, the Global Fund partnership has saved over 38 million lives, is helping to turn the tide on the HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria epidemics, has supported efforts to build national and community systems for health, address gender inequalities and reduce human rights barriers to health. However, with less than 10 years until the Sustainable Development Goals deadline, the world is off track to reach the global targets for HIV, TB and malaria, with the COVID-19 pandemic threating to set back progress by decades.

At the same time, the world’s attention is now focused on health and the importance of protecting our societies from the threats of infectious diseases. It is in this context that the Global Fund is developing what it terms ‘a bold, ambitious and agile’ next Strategy, which will commence in 2023 and whose impact will be measured until 2030. The next Strategy will need to set out how the Global Fund aims to contribute to the achievement of the ambitious 2030 goals for HIV, TB, malaria, and health more broadly, as set out in Sustainable Development Goal 31, considering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 6th Partnership Forums are central to the development of the Global Fund’s post-2022 Strategy, bringing together representatives from across the Global Fund partnership to help identify areas of future focus for the next Global Fund Strategy. See Figure 1 for a representation of the role of the Forums in the Strategy Development Process.

The next Global Fund Strategy is being developed through a highly consultative process.

Throughout 2020, the Global Fund has sought input from across the Global Fund partnership on how the Global Fund can strengthen its impact going forward. This includes input gathered through the Global Fund’s 2020 Open Consultation on Strategy development, through which over 300 individuals and groups from a wide range of regions and stakeholder groups globally contributed their suggestions on a range of topics (see summary of Open Consultation input on the Strategy development webpage). The Global Fund’s Board and Strategy Committee have given their early steer and suggestions. A wide range of other stakeholder groups, including from community and civil society groups to technical partners, have contributed their input.

Evidence has also been gathered from the Global Fund’s Technical Evaluation Reference Group (TERG, the organization’s independent evaluation advisory group), the Technical Review Panel (TRP, the independent body that reviews funding requests submitted to the Global Fund), as well as from partner reports, strategies and other relevant documents.

The Process

Role of the 6th Partnership Forums in the Strategy development process

The Partnership Forums take place approximately every six years, as the Global Fund sets out to develop its next Strategy. The Partnership Forums gather representatives from across the Global Fund partnership, particularly implementers and those not regularly engaged in Global Fund Strategy discussions, to review input, evidence and guidance received on Strategy development to date and to help identify areas of future focus for the next Global Fund Strategy to improve the partnership’s impact. Ensuring the voices and priorities from across the diverse Global Fund partnership are heard is central to the Strategy development process, and critical to ensure that the next Strategy meets the needs of the people it serves.

The 6th Partnership Forums are being convened virtually, given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of three regional meetings, preceded by a joint Global Opening and followed by a joint Global Closing. The meetings are taking place between 2 February and 15 March 2021.

Strategy Framework and Narrative development and approval

Based on the input of the 6th Partnership Forums, as well as wider input and evidence received through the Strategy development process, the Global Fund’s Strategy Committee and Board will develop a Strategy Framework, to be approved by mid-2021. This will be followed by the development of the Strategy’s narrative, to be approved in November 2021, with implementation of the new Strategy beginning in 2023 after the 7th Replenishment. Reports from each of the Partnership Forums, as well as updates on the resulting Strategy framework and narrative, will be made available on the Strategy development webpage.

The 6th Partnership Forums will be convened virtually, given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of three regional meetings, preceded by a joint Global Opening and followed by a joint Global Closing. Table 1 sets out the timetable.

 

Three regional Partnership Forums

The three regional Partnership Forums were launched on 9 February with EECA and LAC. The deliberations from partners working in these regions’ countries and their recommendations will be discussed in the article Voices of the People I in the subsequent GFO Issue #394.

The regional forums gather participants from a number of subregions, during which they share and discuss common challenges and best practices, as well as challenges and priorities specific to their subregion.  Each regional Partnership Forum is held virtually over three days, with between three and five hours participation per day.

The Forums consist of a mix of interactive sessions, plenary and breakout groups to seek detailed input on the list of Strategy development topics. Participants can find a high-level agenda on the 6th Partnership Forums website.

Topics for regional 6th Partnership Forums breakout group discussions

The topics for the breakout group discussions are based on the topics that have emerged through the input and evidence gathered on Strategy development throughout 2020 ― see Figure 2. The Partnership Forums will also give space to discuss new topics brought forward at the Forums, as well as interlinkages between topics.

Meaningful engagement in a virtual environment

Participant engagement is being facilitated by the Global Fund Secretariat by helping to secure internet access and/or phone connectivity, providing IT support, background and conference materials in English, French, Spanish and Russian, as well as live interpretation services during both the plenary sessions and the breakout groups. To create virtual spaces for informal meetings, participants are able to book virtual rooms, attend virtual drinks, and visit ‘topic booths’.

The next issue of the GFO #394 will carry articles on the Voices of the People for all three Forums.