The Communities Delegation abstained from the transition from the 3rd to 4th replenishment period decision point, one of 6 in succession of remaining decisions made to fully launch the new funding model. The attached includes the transcript of the intervention during the Board Meeting.
07 March 2014 - Jakarta, Indonesia - At the 31st Global Fund Board Meeting held on the 6th and 7th March, several decisions were to be made before the launch of the new funding model. This included decisions associated with an amended and restated Comprehensive Funding Policy, Special Initiatives, Regional programmes, Initial Allocation Amount, Transition from the 3rd to 4th Replenishment Period, and Composition of and Allocation to Country Bands.
The Communities Delegation abstained from the decision point on the Transition from the 3rd to 4th Replenishment Period.
The Communities Delegation abstained from the decision based on the following principles:
The Communities Delegation encourages communities and key affected populations to actively engage in country dialogue and monitor Global Fund national processes and ensure resources are allocated for community needs to achieve impact in prevention, treatment, care and support.
STATEMENT MADE BY COMMUNITIES DELEGATION DURING THE 31st BOARD MEETING
Keeping people alive because we can is the reason we started the Global Fund.
Funding available "allocation" is approximately US$15 billion.
The Board should share a common ambition to see these funds on the ground, where they should be as rapidly as possible, achieving necessary scale up and demonstrating impact, saving lives, and ensuring that those most vulnerable and marginalised have an equitable opportunity to access appropriate, relevant and rights based services.
The new CCM guidelines have minimum standards that provide a unique opportunity for communities and key affected populations to be engaged in the process.
Communities can now engage and use the country dialogue to contribute to the development of a concept note.
But we could still end up with no financial resources in our communities and for key populations because priorities will be accorded to commodities, logistics and technical support, since countries have a spending ceiling. The situation will be made worse by a cycle of 4 years instead of 3.
Furthermore, we fail to understand the rationale around countries with issues on absorptive capacity if the iterative process is meant to work.
We have four points that we will elaborate upon.
One. We understand all too well that there are inadequate resources to provide for all those who have a right to HIV, TB and malaria prevention, treatment, care and support services. We are here to provide a voice for communities living with, and affected by the three diseases, and it is this very constituency who will pay the price for this. Lets be clear and honest with one another here... on the real cost of the decisions this Board makes. Our communities live, or die.
Two. We understand that countries have to make tough choices. Between diseases, between different communities, and where/how interventions are needed to enable programmes to scale up.
Three. The history of these epidemics and responses to ‘health issues’ more broadly show us too well that in such contexts, the marginalised and vulnerable become more so. In particular communities of sex workers, transgenders, drug users, migrants and displaced populations, men who have sex with men, young people, women and children.
Four. TB is curable and preventable. Investment now ensures cost reductions in the long term. Malaria is curable and preventable. Investment now ensures cost reductions in the long term. Transmission of HIV is preventable. The investment framework that forms the basis of the Global Fund Strategic goals on HIV is clear. Investment now will yield cost reductions in the long term. And ultimately bend the curve. On the basis on an investment case, less money spent through this replenishment period will result in a greater need in the future, with more new cases of AIDs, TB, and malaria, and more deaths.
Finally, this decision will not achieve our shared ambition. We are convinced that there are alternatives that can. While country delegations return home and answer to their capitals, we will return home to face our communities who will still be waiting in line for treatment and other essential services.
On this basis, the Communities Delegation cannot vote positively on this decision point, and abstains.
For more information about this news release: Please contact the Communities Delegation (Rachel Ong, Communications Focal Point by email rachel.ong.gfatm@gmail.com, or phone +41 (22) 575 4822.
The role of the Communities living with HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and affected by malaria Delegation (Communities Delegation) is to advocate, influence and shape the decisions on the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tb and Malaria (Global Fund). This is so that communities living with HIV, TB and malaria can gain equitable access to quality services and support needed to prevent, treat and/or live with these infections within a conducive environment that respects human rights. www.globalfundcommunitiesdelegation.org