Fifty-sixth Board Meeting

<p><strong>The Board:</strong></p><ol><li><p><strong>Expresses its deep appreciation</strong> to Peter Sands for his service as Executive&nbsp;Director of the Global Fund since March 2018, and for his exceptional leadership, drive for impact and tireless commitment throughout his tenure.</p></li><li><p><strong>Acknowledges</strong> Mr. Sands for his leadership grounded in a deep respect for the people and communities we serve and the challenges they face, placing their needs at the heart of his decisions.</p></li><li><p><strong>Recognizes</strong> Mr. Sands’ significant contribution to advancing the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria through a period of global disruption and transformation, and his instrumental role in:</p><ol type="a"><li><p>mobilizing unprecedented levels of resources through three Replenishments and strengthening the Global Fund’s standing as a trusted, transparent and effective global health financing institution;</p></li><li><p>providing decisive leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling the Global Fund to mount a rapid, large-scale response, supporting countries to protect essential HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services while responding to the pandemic, strengthening health and community systems, and leaving countries better equipped to respond to future health threats;</p></li><li><p>championing innovation as a means to expand impact, strengthening the Global Fund’s market-shaping role and working with partners to accelerate equitable access to lifesaving health products for the people and communities who need them most;</p></li><li><p>transforming the Global Fund to respond to a rapidly changing global health landscape, emphasizing greater country ownership, domestic financing and stronger national and community systems in support of more integrated, country-led and sustainable responses to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria; and</p></li><li><p>maintaining a relentless focus on maximizing the impact of every dollar on the lives of people and communities, directing resources to where needs are greatest.</p></li></ol></li><li><p><strong>Extends</strong> its profound gratitude for Mr. Sands’ distinguished service to the Global Fund partnership and to the people and communities affected by HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.</p></li></ol><p></p>

<p>The Board notes the recommendation of the Strategy Committee (“SC”) as set forth in&nbsp;GF/SC31/DP01 and approves the mid-Strategy adjustments to the 2023-2028 KPI Framework as set forth in GF/B56/10.</p>

<p>Based on the recommendation of the Audit and Finance Committee, including their acknowledgement of the Asset-Liability Management of the Global Fund, the Board approves the following:</p><ol><li><p>The allocation of US$ 31 million to the operating expenses of Country Coordinating Mechanisms for the 2027-2029 allocation utilization period;</p></li><li><p>The 2027 Work Plan and Budget Narrative for the Global Fund, as set forth in GF/B56/08A; and</p></li><li><p>The 2027 Operating Expenses Budget in the total amount of US$ 325 million for the Global Fund, which includes 2027 Operating Expenses in the amounts of US$ 15,447,641 for the Office of the Inspector General, US$ 3,980,604 for the Ethics Office, US$ 1,069,547 for the Technical Review Panel, and US$ 1,350,000 for Constituency Funding, as set forth in GF/B56/08A.</p></li></ol><p></p>

<p>Based on the recommendation of the Strategy Committee, the Board approves the establishment of the Malaria Impact Accelerator as a Board-approved initiative to mobilize and deploy substantial additional restricted financial contributions to support country-led efforts to fight malaria, as described in GF/B56/07, and approves the following strategic elements:</p><p>1. The Malaria Impact Accelerator will mobilize and deploy additional private restricted financial contributions for country-led malaria responses, initially across Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) and Grant Cycle 9 (GC9), so long as new private philanthropic commitments of more than US$ 1 billion are received by the Global Fund by 31 March 2027. Continuation of the Malaria Impact Accelerator in GC9 will be subject to an assessment of learnings and impact from GC8, with possible adaptations based on experience to be considered by the Board and the donor;</p><p>2. The Malaria Impact Accelerator will include a complementary investment architecture comprising country allocations to support country-led malaria responses and catalytic investments that strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and long-term impact of the broader malaria response; wherever possible investments through the Malaria Impact Accelerator will be integrated into country-led health programs without creating parallel delivery architecture;</p><p>3. Country allocations will be determined using a streamlined allocation methodology derived from the Board-approved Global Fund allocation methodology, with certain adaptations including a tailored qualitative adjustment step, for determining the country allocations. Allocations will not offset or disincentivize mobilizing domestic resources for health and increased health expenditure, nor will they impact already established transition timelines; </p><p>4. Eligible investments will draw from the existing Global Fund modular framework, relevant&nbsp;technical partner inputs, consultation with the Technical Review Panel, applicable World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, additional cost-effectiveness criteria, and will align with core Global Fund principles including reaching vulnerable populations, particularly in conflict or fragile settings;</p><p>5. Investment requests will be prioritized and submitted by countries through a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM)-led process based on national strategic plans, undergo independent technical review, and will be subject to Board approval of the resulting grants through the standard grant approval process;</p><p>6. Financing through the Malaria Impact Accelerator will respect the principles of additionality, country ownership, community engagement, alignment with national strategies, technical soundness, streamlined processes that strengthen country planning and limit country administrative burden, sustainability, transparency, and the strategic shifts for GC8. To the fullest extent possible, financing through the mechanism will use existing Global Fund systems, in line with the principle of limiting country burden and parallel systems; and</p><p>7. The Global Fund will continue to work with countries and partners, including Gavi, the World Bank, and other bilateral partners, to ensure countries can holistically consider the range of support being provided, to facilitate optimal investment decisions across the full range of available malaria interventions and coordinate implementation.</p><p>Additionally, the Board directs the Secretariat to return to the Board, through the Strategy Committee, prior to issuance of allocation letters for the Malaria Impact Accelerator, with further detail on significant aspects of operationalization, as recommended by the Board. </p><p>The Board directs the Secretariat to report to the Board, through the Ethics and Governance Committee, on any ethical or governance implications of this mechanism and, through the Strategy Committee, on the operationalization of the Malaria Impact Accelerator, including on the tailored allocation methodology and qualitative-adjustment process; the catalytic investment priorities identified for funding; material programmatic risks that may emerge; including any potential impact on the implementation of the Sustainability, Transition and Cofinancing Policy and optimizing domestic resources; amounts available for investment; and over time the approach for GC9 following a review of GC8 implementation.</p><p>The Board further notes the need to review the Policy on Restricted Financial Contributions and related policies and their implications for the partnership and directs the Secretariat to engage as appropriate with committees and the Board should there be additional significant changes in the implementation or implications of this policy, including through expected updates on the Malaria Impact Accelerator and discussions on development of the next strategy. Any similar mechanisms to deploy significant restricted financial contributions will require Committee and Board consideration and approval.</p><p><strong>Financial Framework for the Restricted Financial Contribution</strong></p><p>Based on the recommendation of the Audit and Finance Committee (AFC), the Board approves:</p><p>1. The receipt and management of restricted financial contributions from private donors for the Malaria Impact Accelerator, in accordance with the Amended and Restated Policy on Restricted Financial Contributions and the tailored investment arrangements approved by the Board, on the basis that the anticipated benefits of the initiative justify the associated transaction costs, risks, and operational adaptations;</p><p>2. That the Malaria Impact Accelerator-related restricted contributions and pledges shall be managed separately from the Global Fund's core funding portfolio, in accordance with the Amended and Restated Comprehensive Funding Policy, but otherwise administered within the Global Fund’s established financial control and asset and liability management framework;</p><p>3. That restricted financial contributions to the Malaria Impact Accelerator will finance interventions across Grant Cycle 8 and the subsequent allocation period; and </p><p>4. That the management and operational costs attributable to the Malaria Impact Accelerator will be separate from the annual operating expenses budget of the Global Fund and will be funded by the donor. </p><p>Additionally, the Board directs the Secretariat to report to the Board, through the AFC, on the material risks under AFC oversight that may emerge related to the Malaria Impact Accelerator, and financial management and performance of the Malaria Impact Accelerator, including operating costs and any related material policy implications.</p>

<p><strong>The Board:</strong></p><ol><li><p><strong>Expresses its deep appreciation</strong> to Lady Roslyn Morauta for her distinguished service as Vice-Chair of the Board from 2019 to 2023 and Chair since May 2023. The Board recognizes her extraordinary stewardship of Global Fund governance through times of crisis, commitment to the integrity and inclusiveness of Board deliberations, and leadership on the most strategic matters facing the organization. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated deep personal commitment to the Global Fund’s mission and the communities it serves.</p></li><li><p><strong>Expresses its sincere gratitude</strong> to Adv. Bience Gawanas for her dedicated service as Vice-Chair of the Board since May 2023, in particular her unwavering commitment to the right of all people to equitable and non-discriminatory access to health, and her advocacy for the meaningful participation and leadership of implementing countries and communities. Her wisdom, integrity and commitment to inclusive governance have made a lasting contribution to the Global Fund.</p></li><li><p><strong>Recognizes</strong> their collective leadership during a period of elevated risk and volatility, in which the Board took consequential decisions to safeguard the effectiveness and sustainability of the Global Fund and ensure continued stakeholder trust.</p></li><li><p><strong>Bestows</strong>, in recognition of their distinguished service, the honorary title of Chair Emeritus upon Lady Roslyn Morauta and Vice-Chair Emeritus upon Adv. Bience Gawanas.</p></li><li><p><strong>Welcomes </strong>Erna Solberg as Chair and Javier Hourcade Bellocq as Vice-Chair of the Board and looks forward to their leadership and service.</p></li></ol><p></p>

<p>The Board appoints Mark Dybul to serve as the next Executive Director of the Global Fund for a four-year term.</p>

<p>Gunilla Carlson from the Point Seven (P7) constituency is designated as Rapporteur for the 56th Board Meeting.</p>

<p>The Agenda for the 56th Board Meeting (GF/B56/01) is approved.</p>