PartnersGF - 2004-11-21 

Comment on Round 5 decision
Stu Flavell, GNP+
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You give the US too much credit - initial polling had all but one donor against a round earlier than November [2005]. The September compromise marks the first time the NGOs, communities and recipients stood together to squeeze a compromise.

Apparently substituting diplomatic one-on-one for legitimate dialogue does not win battles and we can come together and still move forward. None of it is fast enough but we defended principles which were threatened and the Board unified around those principles-- at least one round a year and no restriction on the scope of the round... entropy tugs at every step, but Round Five is a victory for the vision of the Fund, certainly not the final one, but important along the way.

Stu Flavell

International Coordinator
The Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Communities Delegation, GFATM

Chair, Resource Mobilisation and Communications Committee, GFATM

Email: ic@gnpplus.net

Moderators' note: The reference to 'giving the US too much credit likely refers to our previous note, asking:

The decision on opening Round 5 of grants by the Fund appears to be a compromise: Go ahead (satisfying those arguing for growth and momentum of the GF), but delay (satisfying the desire of the US administration to put the breaks on the process for reasons of ‘financial prudence’.

Is this good news or bad? Comments welcome.

Mod.