THE Global Fund recently held a forum for principal administrators within health sectors throughout Latin America & the Caribbean; and
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, having attended the summit, has hailed the experience as both enlightening and rewarding.This two-day forum was entitled “Risk Forum: Effective risk management for sustainable transitions from Global Fund-financed programmes”, and its objectives were as follows:
(1) Dialogue on the Global Fund’s sustainability and transition policy, and its integration with risk management; (2) Prioritise risk factors associated with sustainability and transition from Global Fund-financed programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); (3) Share current approaches and good practices among LAC implementers (particularly civil society), the Global Fund Secretariat and partners, to mitigate sustainability-related risk factors; and (4) Discuss alignment opportunities across partners’ sustainability plans and strategies.

“It is always a challenge for countries to transition smoothly from internationally-funded projects, and sustain them effectively to the benefit of the people they benefit. Being able to explore ways to identify, reduce, and ultimately avoid the risks associated with transition and sustainability will better position the Ministry of Public Health to practically engage in transparent and accountable actions in the continuity of essential projects,” the Minister said in a press statement issued from the Ministry of Public Health.

The presentations and discussions at the forum were focused mainly on sustainability and transition: Global Fund Policy and associated processes; Global Fund transition experiences; risk management approach, and tools to effectively sustain Global Fund-financed programmes; Key risks, and mitigating actions associated with sustainability and transition.

The last session provided opportunities for groups to discuss and agree on the key risks and mitigating actions associated with sustainability and transition.

The current investment of the Global Fund in the Caribbean Region for the period 2014-2017 is US$225,141,154 for three diseases. They are: HIV ($156,994,451), TB ($37,381,405) and Malaria ($30,765,707).

The forum was convened by The Developing Country NGO Constituency (DCNGO), with technical and funding support from The Global Fund, German BACKUP Initiative (GIZ), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), in collaboration with the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC).