Audit of Global Fund Transition Management Processes
03 September 2018
The Global Fund Board approved the Sustainability, Transition and Co-financing (STC) policy in April 2016. This policy defines transition as the mechanism by which a country, or a country disease-component, moves towards fully funding and implementing its health programs independently of Global Fund support, while continuing to sustain the gains made and scaling up programs as appropriate.
In many ways, transition is not primarily a Global Fund process. Rather, it is first a country process supported by the Global Fund. As such, factors such as the political willingness, the level of commitment or the legal framework of countries, which are at different maturity levels, are key enablers of successful transition. While the Global Fund continues to play an advocacy role in most transitioning countries, these factors are country led and beyond the Secretariat’s direct control. Furthermore, as Global Fund investments gradually decrease and eventually end in line with eligibility policies approved by the Board, the Global Fund’s leverage also declines. Thus, successful transition requires focused engagement on the part of all stakeholders, including governments, the Global Fund Secretariat, the Board, partners, donors and civil society organizations.
Since the STC policy was approved, the Global Fund Secretariat has enhanced existing governance mechanisms and instituted new ones to support its implementation. The Secretariat has also tailored and enhanced key processes underlying transition including early planning. However, the need remains to leverage existing mechanisms to support countries post transition and improve Global Fund monitoring of transition grants.