Global Fund board supports recommendations of Independent Review Panel, will implement 'wide-reaching reforms'

"The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved an action plan Monday in response to recommendations made recently by the High-Level Independent Review Panel on Fiduciary Controls and Oversight Mechanism (HLP)," the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog reports, adding, "The board stated that it accepts the underlying analysis made by the panel and that it 'presents a compelling case for a rapid and urgent transformation of the Global Fund.'"

While the panel's report "included high praise for the broad impact of the Fund" and "noted its impressive record in terms of lives saved," it "said the Fund is more vulnerable than has been acknowledged by its leaders, and the Fund must 'reform itself to remain relevant,'" according to the blog (Bryden, 9/28). According to the Financial Times, recommendations by the panel "criticized the governance of the organization, insufficient supervision of its secretariat, weaknesses in grant management and recipient countries which did not take sufficient responsibility for programs."

In an interview with the Financial Times, Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine said "there was likely to be a shift towards far greater 'informed demand,' with officials 'engaging in an active dialogue to focus more on high burden countries and where we can have the greatest impact'" (Jack, 9/27). In a statement, the Global Fund said "the Board is putting in place a comprehensive plan of wide-reaching reforms" in response to the report. "The recommendations, some of which can be implemented immediately, include measures to ensure that the Global Fund focuses on its core business of managing grants to save and protect lives while at the same time mitigating risks effectively," according to the statement. "The Board will assess progress and set further milestones for the changes at its next meeting in November," the statement says (9/27).