Dear Dr Yahya Msangi,

Further to my message of 19 November 2009, I would like to direct you to the Proposal Development Forum where a sub-forum is dedicated to regional proposals.

Best regards,
Olivier.

Olivier Coeur de Roy
Web Officer,
Communication Team,
The Global Fund

Dear Dr Yahya Msangi,

Please find below some information in response to your questions:

CCM Composition

Thank you very much for your posting on MyGlobal Fund. The Global Fund recognizes the importance of strong involvement of labor organizations in Global Fund processes. The Global Fund Secretariat has been involved in consultations with labor organizations to strengthen the participation of labor organizations in Global Fund governance and implementation. An important partner in this has been the Global Unions HIV/AIDS Programme, http://old.global-unions.org/hiv-aids/.

Trade unions have been an important partner and voice in many countries. At its 20th meeting the Board of the Global Fund approved a review of the CCM guidelines. To fully reflect the roles of different actors is one of the objectives of the revision. We referred your contribution also to our discussion forum that specifically focuses on CCMs.

Your message was very timely as the CCM Team here at the Secretariat had scheduled a meeting regarding the very same question of yours regarding the composition of CCM and the inclusion of Trade Unions. From this meeting, it has been decided that a new sector, the Trade Unions sector, will be considered in the composition of CCM. CCMs are receiving updated information about this new decision shortly. This will be implemented for Round 10.

Regional applications

Regional applications to the Global Fund have always been possible and are encouraged. In Round 9 three multi-country applications have been recommended for funding. Guidance on multi-country applications/regional proposals will be included in the information material for funding Round 10. In the meantime, I suggest the reading of the following document "Information Note for Multi-Country Applicants" which gives information about proposal application for Regional Organizations (RO) or other Multi-Country applicants. The document is available here:
http://www.theglobalfund.org/documents/rounds/9/CP_Pol_R9_Guidance_Multi-Country_Applicants_en.pdf

Information Outreach

For information outreach to different constituencies at an international, regional and national level the World AIDS Campaign (WAC), http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/, is an important partner for us. WAC works through a constituency-based approach wherein labor constitutes one of the main focuses.

Best regards,
Olivier.

Olivier Coeur de Roy
Web Officer,
Communication Team,
The Global Fund

My name is Yahya Msangi and am the Regional Coordinator for the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC - Africa). We are based in Lome Togo and we represent 16 million african workers.

I am concerned that the composition of many CCMs does not inlcude Trade Unions. This is because in your list of stakeholders, this important group does not feature. I suggest that GF adopt all stakeholder groups recognized under Agenda 21 of the Rio Declartion. By its nature, Trade Unions have clear and democratically elected structures from international, regional, sub regional, national and workplace levels. Women and Youth form part of these structures. GF should recognize them and build their capacities. HIV AIDS is a workplace problem and only trade unions and employers can address the problem effectively through collective bargaining agreements, codes of practice or workplace policies. Only trade unions can enforce compliancy to these instruments due to their legal mandate derived from Labour Legislations e.g. employment and Labour Relations Act, Occupational Safety and Health Acts, Workmen Compensation Acts, etc.

As a regional trade union organisation we find it difficult to access GF assistance since you operate at national level. We need guidance on how we can proceed since our organisation ITUC Africa and our sister regional body OATUU are planning to submit a joint regional application on Round 10.