PartnersGF - 2005-03-04

Update on activities of the Civil Society Liaison
January 2005
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[Mods Note: We would like to thank Mick Matthews, Civil Society Liaison for the Global Fund for the following update.]
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An introductory letter, outlining some initial ideas regarding the function and focus of the Civil Society Liaison was circulated widely early in the month. The support from the networks, especially the Central & Eastern European Harm Reduction Networks, Agua Buena Association and Health & Development Networks, ensured the message went way beyond the range of my existing mailing list. This support is really appreciated because it only through regular communication and mutual support that the profile and knowledge about the Global Fund within Civil Society can be raised. It is important also in building effective participation of Civil Society in all Global Fund operations and processes.

The interest in the Global Fund is clear and the initial contact has already led to more questions and requests for information than I realistically have the capacity to respond to. Many of the questions relate to what is happening in individual countries and how can NGOs engage with CCMs. I will continue to work at a system to manage the volume of correspondence. What I have been doing is trying to ensure people have the full contact details of their CCMs as well as the Civil Society contacts wherever possible, plus in a number of cases the timeline and process for submitting proposals.

In terms of CCM involvement we now have new CCM requirements, CCM guidelines produced by People Living with HIV/AIDS, the AIDSspan Guidelines and the Global Fund Secretariat own toolkit. The key issue now for us all but especially the NGO Delegations to the Board and the key networks, both global and national, is operationalising these guidelines and the CCM requirements.

Internally within the Secretariat, following a Staff Indaba the Civil Society Liaison is involved with other members of External Relations, Operations and Human Resources to address some of the concerns that have often been raised by Civil Society. These include HIV staff sensitization, HIV in the Workplace Policy for staff, Secretariat Diversity including Gender and Cultural Diversity. These form part of an ongoing process within the Secretariat. I am trying to decide how much time I can devote to these areas although I will be fully involved and will lead the HIV/AIDS sensitization and possibly the HIV in the Workplace also. The other areas I will input but I think they will require others to drive them.

The impact the Global Fund is having on Malaria is probably the most visible and it is important that there is increased engagement of NGOs representing and identifying as from the Malaria constituency. I have been in contact with Massive Effort and Roll Back Malaria and it is hoped this can act as a springboard for increased involvement and visibility of Malaria advocacy.

I hope we can develop similar effectiveness and visibility in Civil Society activity within the Global Fund process with TB and I will be attending a meeting at WHO early in February as a first step.

Within the three diseases it is important we develop shared knowledge and understanding especially as 2005 presents Civil Society with a number of important advocacy opportunities.

External Relations are naturally heavily focused on the Replenishment Mechanism and I have sent a separate update out already. Further updates will be issued fortnightly as information becomes available, both from within the Secretariat and externally from Civil Society.

As a final thought, for the Civil Society Liaison the approach will be inclusive, that is to say if groups of NGOs, activists and user groups have problems with particular aspects of the Global Fund let us work together on solutions.

You will find me open and willing to discuss the issues that concern you and I hope together we can make a difference.

Mick Matthews
Civil Society Liaison
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria
Tel:               41 22 791 5991