PartnersGF - 2004-07-08
1st Partnership Forum: Discussions underway at the GFATM Partnership Forum
HDN Key Correspondent
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Almost four hundred people from different parts of the world gathered together during two days at the first Global Fund Partnership Forum in Bangkok. As Helene Gayle, chair of the Partnership Forum steering committee and director for HIV, TB and reproductive health at the Gates Foundation said, this should be the beginning of the dialogue between the Funds different stakeholders.
During the opening plenary, the main statement that came out was that the Global Fund works - even if there are many areas where it can improve. The Partnership Forum hopefully be able to help the Fund adapt to country and local needs.
Perspectives from the field were given from Kenya by Tom Mboya, Ukraine by Natalia Leonchuk and from Bangladesh by Faruque Ahmed.
A fourth perspective from Chile was delivered in a shared presentation by Francisco Vidal and Marco Becerra. This joint presentation showed a unique circumstance in this small country from the South, where the process and functioning of the Funds Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) was evolving in a very democratic way.
The way the Chileans dealt with what looks like a problematic aspect of the CCM constitution (almost worldwide) is exemplary; Mr Vidal and Mr Becerra said that the vote for the CCM chair was evenly split. Therefore, they are co-chairs for this year.
Other innovative aspects of the Chilean experience were highlighted during their presentation. Not only is there a low number of Government representatives in the CCM, there is also a strong partnership between NGOs working in HIV/AIDS and government members that dates from since 1999, before the Fund was created.
Among the most important and welcome news about the Global Fund Partnership Forum was on a decision taken less than two weeks ago, during the latest board meeting in Geneva. After two years of discussion by the Governance and Partnership Committee, there is now improved representation of people living with the three diseases, and there will be a permanent, voting board member representing those communities.
The GF was created to reduce infections, illness and death from HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. This commitment is what should unite us, in order to monitor the Funds progress and actively participate in its evolution. But mostly to make the unheard voices of people living with HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria come to light.
HDN KC Team
Email: correspondents@hdnet.org