SUPPORTING CIVIL SOCIETY OGRAGANIZATIONS BY THE GF CHOSEN AS PRs BY THE CCMs

•    The PRs will experience increased responsibilities, and work load which create the need for strengthened structures by the GF for effective disbursement of funds approved as grants to organizations for sustained implementation of programmes.
•    Due to their inexperience as PRs, there is great need to provide technical assistance/ consultancy at the initial period of their operations to mentor local NGOs.
•    Identification of areas  likely to create or promote conflict of interests with CCMs that have chosen them.
•    Reduce overlapping roles with CCMs members.
•    Improvement on existing collaboration and co-ordination systems between the CCMs, PRs, Local Funding Agencies and the board secretariat.- improvement on communication skills and systems.
•    Help reduce Governments controls on their operations as PRs to enable them perform their duties autonomously without being subjected to constraining legal requirements e.g. recruitment of technical staff based on country regulations.
•    Promote direct linkages with civil societies up to the grassroots level so as to be in a position to enhance collective responsibility in the process of proposals development
•    Be in a position to recommend to the secretariat or the board, local funding agency, priority areas of interventions at country levels and organizations that need additional funding if identified under funded during the stages of programmes implementation
•    Holding regular consultative meetings between GF missions and representatives of the PRs to identify and discuss emerging issues on funding mechanisms for predictability and accountability.
•    Building their capacity on monitoring and evaluation of use of funds


Thanks,
Paul Moses

yes, Global Fund can support civil society organizations that have been chosen as principal recipients. but it dependes on how global fund give priority those organizations and their stakeholders, i don't think that it will have meaning only giving fund PR organizations with out satisfying all stakeholders, when i am saying that, i mean Global Fund is not fully aware how the budget was managed, because it has no office the countries it's working, they only send Monitoring and Evaluation team. so my arguement is no matter how Global Fund support Civil Soceity organization untill it opens office every country. My point of veiw to wards CCM, i suggest first CCM come in ellection system, CCM leaders we don't know how was chosen, they are working with civil soceity is right, but we civil soceity we didn't vote the one who will lead CCM and members of CCM, and duration they will be in the office, so my point of veiw i see CCM monopoly system in our country, i suggest becoming CCM person to get vote from civil soceity then CCM and Civil soceity can work to gather well.

in my opinion to wards How can the Global Fund better support civil society organizations that have been chosen as Principal Recipients by the CCM* in their newly required responsibilities? i suggest to make international commitee, those have higher than CCM and control over all projects. this commitee they will aware the demands of the Pricipal Recipeints and the demand of Stakeholders. second i suggest to make soft ware programs to control the activities of Principal Recipients and responsibilities. the third i suggest to make project called ( World Respond Information System ) (WRIS). this system will be used data collection of GLOBAL FUND . this means every Organization of Civil Soceity will use this soft ware and mention his responsibilty

Dear Forum, It is also true that it is actually the GOvernment and UN and foundations "hand" behind which CSO to support and pick for the selection of PR. It is sometimes done to payback the favours the governemtn person or agency has been getting from them in the past or it is a personal equation between the heads of the CSO and the Chiefs of the national disease control programmes and the ministry. Try and analyse this for the last so many years in India atleast and you will see the hidden link between which CSOs got selected as PRs. thanks

Dear Forum, There seems to be different yardsticks as far as CSO as a PR vs. Government body as a PR and an International NGO or UN syatem as a PR is concerned. Why So? thanks

Direct CSO funding (PR) is often hands-on and provides visible benefits to the CSOs. This of course has a story goodwill value. It serves as a “reality testing” of achieving direct feedback from grass roots. To achieve the above and more, the GF should:

-        Assist CSOs in establishing effective and appropriate environmental policies and related legislation. This include: Adopting universal norms and values manifested in international agreements, and on pursuing ethical standards, in terms of working conditions and environmental standards.

-        Provision of technical assistance in the form of man power training, provision of infrastructure requirements, and other assistance as may be required, which stimulates both physical and mental interaction e.g internet services, computers, operational vehicles, small scale power system.

-        Create conducive environment with openness, reflected in the free exchange of information and communication, freedom of expression and contribution.

-        Assisting CSOs through strengthening their capacities to be able to monitor environmental impact, local and international advocacy and reporting, use of ICT.

-        Adopting a broad and holistic approach to funding, encompassing basically the items contained in proposals submitted by CSOs. 

As in socialism country, it is very hard for the NGOs in China to make a live because of limited fund resource and strictly approve. Most so called “NGO” have some relationship with the government more or less. The left few NGOs are not mature, with limited experiences, lack of human resource, and have no any other fund. Base on these conditions, the NGO PR have great challenge to implement the GF program while he has to manage and cooperate with these NGOs as SR(Sub-Recipient) and ssR. In my opinion, international NGOS definitely should mentor local NGOs as technical assistance, but if he will implement some activities in china, he should act as a partner but a teacher and bring no political factors. Training and workshop on how to build and manage according to Chinese conditions a NGO are very necessary.

After a less than satisfactory experience with the Global Fund and the CCM in Round 6 CRS Honduras decided to submit another proposal to the CCM for Round 8. We were the only international NGO to apply, though there were many local NGOs at the various meetings prior to the application deadline. We submitted a thorough, well written proposal that directly responded to one of the priority populations named by the CCM, i.e. people living with HIV/AIDS. Our proposal was subsequently rejected by the CCM for inclusion in the country level proposal to the GF in Geneva for "not targeting priority populations." When we responded to the rejection letter from the CCM stating that indeed we had targeted one of the populations named in the application, we got no reply, no justification, nothing. I use this story not only to expresss my frustration at the lack of transparency with the CCM but also to share my opinion that regardless of which PR comes in, or what the CCM says to both national and international applicants, the process will always be frought with politics and infighting and an entrenched lack of transparency and accountability which, in the final analysis, discourages the most qualified applicants from even applying. Until there is a complete overhaul both within CCMs and until the PR takes on a more inclusive, engaged role in attracting competent civil society organizations, many of whom have solid track records in implementing quality programming in HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria, the level of professionalism and quality programming will never live up to the goals of the GF as stated in its mandate.

Dear Colleagues, The GF, need to help PRs by negotiating with the government for reduction of controls on those chosen organization to perform their duties autonomously, without being subjected to constraining legal requirements at country levels e.g recruitment of staff based on country regulations an obstacle to professionalism. Negotiate with National Government on tax exemptions on importation of equipments meant for office use by the chosen organizations as PRs. Enhanced capacity building on monitoring and evaluation processes within and without those organizations. Strengthen mechanisms for disbursing funds to organizations tasked in responsibilities of implementation of programmes at all levels. The GF should ensure that the chosen PRs continue to remain relevant and focused so as not to be futile after expiry of its period as PRs. Thanks. Joe Ngunju.

Global fund should reach to local social organizations. For this CCM’s must hold their responsibilities firmly. In present particularly in India Global Fund is like a flying bird which has no shadow on earth. To work at the grass root level well planed program should be prepared with the help of CSO’s and CCM’s.

yes, Global Fund can support civil society organizations that have been chosen as principal recipients. but it dependes on how global fund give priority those organizations and their stakeholders, i don't think that it will have meaning only giving fund PR organizations with out satisfying all stakeholders, when i am saying that, i mean Global Fund is not fully aware how the budget was managed, because it has no office the countries it's working, they only send Monitoring and Evaluation team. so my arguement is no matter how Global Fund support Civil Soceity organization untill it opens office every country. My point of veiw to wards CCM, i suggest first CCM come in ellection system, CCM leaders we don't know how was chosen, they are working with civil soceity is right, but we civil soceity we didn't vote the one who will lead CCM and members of CCM, and duration they will be in the office, so my point of veiw i see CCM monopoly system in our country, i suggest becoming CCM person to get vote from civil soceity then CCM and Civil soceity can work to gather well.