Five-Year Evaluation Synthesis Report

Summary:

The Synthesis Report comprises the final deliverable of the Five-Year Evaluation and provides essential analytical linkages across all three study areas, along with a synthesis of findings and recommendations.  Overall, the Synthesis Report finds that the Global Fund plays an important role in the global development architecture, and fully merits the continued support and collaboration of the diverse array of development actors involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.  While the report recognizes the commendable successes of the Global Fund to date, it also presents findings and recommendations addressing problems and weaknesses which require serious consideration by the Global Fund and its partners.  The key messages from this report underscore the urgent need to focus on principles of mutual accountability in partnerships, to review and reinforce the performance-based funding system to secure its integrity, and to improve contributions to the fight against the three diseases through health systems strengthening. This final report of the Five-Year Evaluation provides a cohesive and well-integrated basis for a strategic and operational response from the Global Fund.

Background:

The Five-Year Evaluation is an independent, Board-mandated evaluation conducted under the oversight of the Technical Evaluation Reference Group (TERG). Study Area 1 of the Five-Year Evaluation was completed in November 2007 and examined the organizational efficiency and effectiveness of the Global Fund, its progress to date and critical areas for improvement. The study of the Global Fund’s partner environment in 16 countries and at the global level (Study Area 2) was presented to the Board in November 2008. Study Area 3 is the most extensive component of the Five-Year Evaluation, and involved the examination of impact on the three diseases in 18 countries. Both the Study Area 3 report and the final Five-Year Evaluation Synthesis Report, which synthesizes the findings and recommendations from all three study areas, were presented to the Global Fund Board at its Nineteenth Board Meeting in May 2009.