Global Fund [to 21 November 2015]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/

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New Grant to Support Human Rights in 10 African Countries
19 November 2015
GENEVA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund have signed a US$10.5 million grant to address human rights barriers faced by vulnerable communities in Africa, and facilitate access to lifesaving health care. The grant is the first of its kind and will cover 10 countries including Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, the Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Disenfranchised populations such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs and transgender people, systematically face human rights abuses and obstacles to receiving vital health care, such as HIV and tuberculosis (TB) prevention, treatment and care.

“The right to health means that each and every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,” said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator. “Together we need to support countries to implement laws and policies grounded in evidence and human rights in order to reduce stigma, safeguard dignity, and ensure access to essential health services for all. Punitive laws and practices impeding effective HIV and TB responses need to be abolished.”

Sub-Saharan Africa has 70 percent of the world’s new HIV infections. Although major progress has been made in recent years to promote better access to health services in most countries, social stigma and discrimination around those affected by HIV continues to hamper their access to life-saving treatment. The grant money will support the strengthening of laws and policies to improve access to health care and reduce the impact of HIV and TB on these vulnerable populations.

UNDP will be the principal recipient of the three-year Africa Regional Grant in collaboration with four African civil society organizations – the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), ENDA Santé, KELIN, and the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC). These organizations have recognized expertise in documenting human rights violations, in strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity-strengthening.

Since 2003, UNDP has partnered with the Global Fund to achieve the common goal of fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria more effectively, including among the poorest and most marginalized communities in challenging country contexts.

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Global Fund Board Approves New Strategic Framework
17 November 2015
GENEVA – The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved a new framework for its 2017-2022 strategy to maximize impact, strengthen systems for health, promote and protect human rights and gender equality, and mobilize additional resources.

At a two-day Board meeting, partners agreed to prioritize efforts that reach more people and achieve greater impact through innovative approaches that meet diverse country needs. The Global Fund invests nearly US$4 billion each year in programs in communities and countries all over the world to accelerate the end of HIV, TB and malaria as epidemics.

The strategic framework sets the structure for a multiyear strategy with a fuller narrative that is expected to be finalized in 2016. Several Board members commented on the extensive consultations and broad engagement in the year-long process in devising the strategic framework, intended to capture feedback from across the Global Fund partnership. Hundreds of partners participated in strategy discussions at Partnership Forums that were convened in Addis Ababa, Bangkok and Buenos Aires, and contributed through an e-Forum that collected views from all over the world.

“The strategic framework shows considerable progress on human rights, as well as the commitment of the Global Fund to demonstrate investments in women and girls,” said Rico Gustav, Alternate Board member of the Communities Delegation. “Looking forward, we need an allocation methodology aligned with the strategic framework for the impacts to translate into saving lives.”

At the Board meeting, led by Board Chair Norbert Hauser and Vice Chair Aida Kurtovic, members also voted to approve an operating budget and corporate work plan for 2016.
The new strategic framework is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals embraced by member states of the United Nations in September 2015, with a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that seeks to reach those most in need, reduce inequalities, and support sustainable transition across the development continuum as countries move toward self-sustainability.

The new strategic framework underlines Global Fund commitment to contribute to building resilient and sustainable systems for health together with robust national strategies for health and with national disease-specific strategic plans in each country…