Asia-Pacific is ready to support the Global Fund Eighth Replenishment!
BANGKOK – The Global Fund Advocates Network Asia-Pacific (GFAN AP) organised a face-to-face convening in Bangkok, Thailand from 12 to 15 August 2024 in preparation for the upcoming Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). This included the first face-to-face meeting of the newly formed Steering Committee (SC) after the governance strengthening process undertaken in 2023, a well as the strategising meeting national, regional and global partners “Towards the Global Fund Eighth Replenishnent: The Asia-Pacific Response“. The face-to-face convening was made possible with the support from the Global Fund and the New Venture Fund.
The newly elected SC met on the 12 and 15 August for the induction, discussed the development of the operational manual, was presented the financial update from GFAN AP fiscal host (INPUD), was presented the 2024 budget and workplan and the forecasted workplan and budget for 2025, endorsed the campaign elements for the Asia-Pacific Eighth Replenishment campaign, held discussions on diversifying its donor based and elected its office bearers – Ms Blessina Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Global Coalition of TB Activists (GCTA) based in India as Chairperson; Ms Phouttakone Norphansy, Program Director of Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAs) based in Laos as Vice-Chairperson; and Mr Masaki Inaba, Programme Director for Global Health of Africa Japan Forum (AJF) based in Japan.
“We are confident with the new Steering Committee and governance strengthening processes in place to support the GFAN AP Secretariat to implement and coordinate outcomes of the discussions of the strategizing meeting, which reflected the true spirit and drive of GFAN AP to convene communities and civil society across the three diseases ahead of the Eighth Global Fund Replenishment,” said Blessina Kumar.
31 participants, including national, regional and global partners from communities and civil society, the Global Fund Secretariat, GFAN AP secretariat and facilitator were in attendance on the 13 and 14 August to develop the concept and narrative of the Asia-Pacific Eighth Replenishment campaign and the key advocacy asks for the Global Fund Eighth Replenishment with emphasis on the needs of key and vulnerable populations, communities and civil society in the Asia-Pacific. Participants also identified key activities coordinated at the regional level by GFAN AP and activities that would be implemented by national partners.
A strong sentiment that echoed throughout the meeting was the solidarity and cohesion of communities that came together to mobilise resources for the Global Fund for the Sixth and Seventh Replenishment and will continue to do so to support the Eighth Replenishment. However, for continued support and sustainability of responses in the Asia-Pacific region which sees dwindling resources for communities and civil society from bilateral and multilateral institutions in settings of shrinking civic space, communities and civil society in the region are calling for increased investments in the region to ensure the sustainability of resources for advocacy to influence and shape the political landscape, as well as ensure continued interventions and services provided by communities for communities across the three diseases to achieve the 2030 goals.
To ensure the engagement of partners beyond those present in the face-to-face convening, GFAN AP will be holding an online meeting in September to seek further feedback which will be incorporated into the final campaign to ensure a fully resourced Global Fund that meets the needs of key populations, communities and civil society with their meaningful engagement and leadership. This will only be made possible through the optimal use of funds for truly resilient systems for health that incorporates communities systems strengthening and community-led interventions that can be funded effectively and sustainably.