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David Garmaise – Global Fund Observer
On 16-17 November 2016, the Global Fund Board held its 36th meeting in Montreux, 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 is available at www.theglobalfund.org/en/board/meetings/36. Background documentation will also, in time, be posted by the Global Fund at the same location.)
Resource Mobilization. The Board requested that the Secretariat, under the oversight of the Audit and Finance Committee, develop an ambitious plan for attracting additional resources. The Board said that the plan, which may include providing additional pledging opportunities for donors, should maintain visibility of both unfunded quality demand and progress in achieving impact. The Board asked that the plan be shared with the Board at its 37th meeting, and be subsequently reported on by the AFC to the Board on a regular basis. [See Decision Point 03.]
Comprehensive Funding Policy. The Board approved an amended and restated Comprehensive Funding Policy. Further details are provided in a separate article in this issue. [See Decision Point 04.]
2017-2019 Allocations. The Board decided that the amount of sources of funds for allocation for the 2017-2019 allocation period is $11.1 billion, of which $10.0 billion is derived from the 5th Replenishment and $1.1 billion represents forecasted unutilized funds from the 2014-2016 allocations period. Of the $11.1 billion, $800 million is reserved for catalytic investments, leaving $10.3 billion available for country allocations. Finally, the Board said that of the $10.3 billion, $800 million will be used to ensure scale up, impact and paced reductions. Further details are provided in a separate article in this issue. [See Decision Point 05.]
Catalytic investments. The Board approved $800 million for catalytic investments. Further details are provided in a separate article in this issue. [See Decision Point 06.]
Selection of next Executive Director. The Board approved revised terms of reference for the E.D. position as well as the voting procedure for the selection of the next E.D. Further details are provided in a separate article in this issue. [See Decision Point 07.]
Work plan and budget. The Board approved a corporate work plan and budget narrative. The Board also approved a 2017 operating expenses budget in the amount of $300.0 million, which included $17.1 million for the expenses of the Office of the Inspector General. Further details are provided in a separate article in this issue. [See Decision Point 08.]
Key Performance Indicators. Board member discussed proposed performance targets recommended by the Audit and Finance Committee and the Strategy Committee for 2017-2022 but did not adopt them. Instead, the Board requested that: (a) Board constituencies submit statements, questions, concerns, or suggested revisions regarding the performance targets, including how country-level information or estimates will be considered, to the Secretariat by 30 November 2016; (b) that the Secretariat provide a response by 9 December 2016; (c) that the chairs and vice-chairs of the Audit and Finance Committee (AFC) and the Strategy Committee (SC) determine the performance targets to be addressed by each committee; and (d) and the chairs and vice-chairs of the AFC and the SC establish a joint-committee advisory group to work with the Secretariat to present by 9 December 2016 revised performance targets for the Strategic KPI Framework – based on country-level estimates where relevant and available – to the AFC and SC for recommendation to the Board by the first week of March 2017.
Further, the Board decided that the Advisory Group will: (a) be comprised of four individuals identified by the implementer constituency and four individuals identified by the donor constituency and two representatives of the technical partners, in consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the AFC and SC, to work with the Secretariat to present revised performance targets for the Strategic KPI Framework; (b) consult with the Technical Review Panel and the Technical Evaluation Reference Group; (c) consider statements, questions, concerns, or suggested revisions by Board constituencies, as well as responses provided by the Secretariat, to advise the Secretariat on presenting the AFC and SC with revised performance targets for the Strategic KPI Framework; and (d) be dissolved upon the Board’s approval of performance targets for the Strategic KPI Framework. [See Decision Point 09.]
Next meeting. The Board welcomed the invitation of the Government of Rwanda to host the Global Fund’s 37th Board meeting on 3-4 May 2017. [See Decision Point 10.]