LocationsThe three-year grant builds on efforts to end HIV, TB and malaria, and strengthen health systems
Global Fund Mission Team Okays South Sudan’s Readiness for the 2024 – 2026 Grant
November 20, 2023
Officials from the Global Fund Country Team, Ministry of Health, UNDP and partners during the recent Global Fund mission to South Sudan.
UNDP/Michael Mubangizi
As the 2022 - 2025 grant cycle comes to an end, partners in the HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) programming are finalizing preparations for the implementation of a three-year grant expected to start on 01 January 2024, and end on 31 December 2026.
Assessing the readiness for the new grant was at the heart of a recent Global Fund Country Team Mission to South Sudan. Led by Boniface Njenga, Senior Fund Portfolio Manager, the mission took place between 13 November and 17 November 2023. During the visit, the team met with Government officials and stakeholders in health implementation, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), UNDP, South Sudan Aids Commission, Local Fund Agent, civil society and community groups of persons living with HIV.
Mr. Boniface Njenga – Senior Fund Portfolio Manager, the Global Fund.
UNDP/South Sudan
Speaking during the debriefing session with partners, Mr. Njenga revealed that the Grant Approvals Committee, which is made up of senior management at the Global Fund and representatives of technical, bilateral and multilateral partners, had reviewed the final version of the South Sudan grant, and “they recommended it to the Board of the Global Fund for approval.”
He expressed optimism that the grant would most likely be approved, and funds released for the implementation to start in January 2024 as planned, adding, “We intend to do all these things before the end of the year so that implementation starts without delay.”
Dr. Jane Alphonse Juma, the Chairperson Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) speaking during a Global Fund Mission to South Sudan stakeholder engagement.
UNDP/South Sudan
More COVID-19 response funds
Mr. Njenga also disclosed that the country’s application for additional funding from the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Portfolio Optimization grant had also been endorsed. “The investment’s committee recommended the approval of US$23 million allocation to the Board of the Global Fund,” he added. This would be available for implementation for two years ending in December 2025.
Thus, South Sudan could potentially receive $165 million to support HIV, TB, malaria and health systems strengthening in the next three years from the Global Fund. This includes USD 90 million for HIV, TB and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH), USD 52 million for malaria, and the USD23 million through the C19RM PO opportunity. Of this, USD 113 (90 and 23) could potentially be managed through UNDP.
During the visit, the Global Fund team discussed implementation arrangements with UNDP - who is the Principal Recipient (PR) for AIDS, TB and Health systems strengthening and UNICEF who is the PR for the malaria grant. “We had good meetings with the UNDP and UNICEF, we went through the details, and we are satisfied that the plans are in place; so, once money is approved and released, they are ready to implement,” Njenga said, adding, “We implore all of you who are involved in the implementation to also prepare accordingly and be ready.”
The Deputy Resident Representative – Programmes Mr. Titus Osundina (R) meeting with Mr. Boniface Njenga (The Global Fund, Senior Fund Portfolio Manager) and Mr. Russell Armstrong (UNDP Global Fund Programme Coordination Advisor)
UNDP/South Sudan
Increased HIV and TB targets
During the mission, the team also discussed new HIV and TB targets with partners. “Because of your good performance, the targets we expected to achieve by next year 2024, have already been achieved. This means that the performance framework needs to be changed. We can’t go with something that has already been achieved as a target,” Njenga said.
He also called for a more robust national ownership of the response to the three diseases and the health system strengthening, backed by increased Government allocation to the health sector.
During the visit, the Global Fund team also had discussions on co-financing arrangements and the issue of according privileges and immunities to the Global Fund investments in the country.