Global Fund names former Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt and former President of Botswana Mogae to lead an independent review of Global Fund financial safeguards
16 March 2011
GENEVA – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today announced that former President of Botswana Festus Mogae and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt have agreed to lead a high-level panel of experts that will conduct an independent and thorough review of the Global Fund’s financial safeguards.
“The appointment of this panel is part of the Global Fund commitment to ensuring our financial controls are the most robust possible, and that donor investments go directly to fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis,” said Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “Sound financial controls and anti-corruption protections are essential elements in our continued ability to save millions of lives, and to facilitating social and economic development in the more than 140 countries we support.”
The two co-chairs will select a small group of eminent persons and experts to join the panel. Over the next several months, the panel will assess the Global Fund’s current practices in financial oversight and implementation. The panel will also make recommendations where necessary to help strengthen the Global Fund’s fiscal controls and anti-corruption protections. This review is part of a broader set of measures that continue to be implemented to strengthen the Global Fund’s financial safeguards.
"The Global Fund is the world's most powerful tool in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria and the American people are rightly proud of its success," said Michael O. Leavitt. "It will be my job as co-chair of this independent review to make certain that the Global Fund's financial controls meet high standards of professionalism and that, if necessary, improvements are made to increase the funds ability to improve lives."
The independent review panel will report to the Board of the Global Fund. As with all Global Fund reports, the panel’s findings will be made public.
Michael O. Leavitt served under President George W. Bush as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2005 to 2009. During his three terms as Governor of Utah, the state was recognized six times as one of the U.S.’s best-managed. A seasoned diplomat, Leavitt led U.S. delegations to more than 50 countries, conducting negotiations on matters related to health, the environment and trade. Leavitt also served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
Festus Mogae was President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African leadership in recognition of his record of good governance as President. Earlier in his career, he occupied posts at the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana.