Community update 2014

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COMMUNITY UPDATE FOR MSM ADVOCATES
The Global Fund’s New Funding Model:
Key Entry Points for Civil Society
November 2014
THE NEW FUNDING MODEL
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM) launched the New
Funding Model (NFM) in early 2013. During the NFM’s 2014 rollout, the global
community continuously reassessed the NFM in consideration of the roles that civil
society and key affected populations (KAPs) can and should play in the development
and implementation of GFATM grants, based on the experience of applicant countries.
The NFM aims to enhance civil society participation in all stages of the country dialogue
process to help ensure investments are strategically targeting the right intervention and
the right population, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and other KAPs. The
NFM application process is designed to be more flexible, predictable, and simple in the
application process.
Civil society has an invaluable role to play in mobilizing country-level communities and
pushing national governments to address the needs of those most affected by HIV. This
update provides KAPs and broader civil society advocates with a step-by-step overview
of the NFM process, as well as guidance on how they can be more meaningfully
involved in the ongoing country dialogue process.
OVERVIEW OF THE NEW FUNDING MODEL
Under the NFM, the GFATM communicated with each eligible country their funding
allocation in early 2014. Countries are encouraged to apply for additional funding
beyond this amount, and there is incentive to being ambitious and creative1.
The Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of each country plans when it would like
to submit a funding application, also known as a concept note. The CCM is a national
body responsible for:
! Overseeing the development of the concept note for each disease - HIV and
AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB),Malaria - including health systems strengthening (HSS)
! Managing grant agreements
! Nominating the main grant implementers, or principal recipients (PR), who then
select sub-recipients (SR) from among stakeholders involved in the response to
AIDS, TB, and malaria
! Ensuring civil society engagement throughout the application process and
implementation of the grant
! Communicating with the Global Fund Secretariat through the Fund Portfolio
Manager (FPM)
Countries may submit their funding application as separate concept notes by disease, or
as a joint and complete package. Concept notes must be developed with broad input
from key stakeholders, including KAPs and people living with HIV, TB and/or malaria.
1There is an exception for Band 4 countries. To know more, please see: Punishing Success? Explanation of Band 4 of the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and its implications for Civil Society and Key Populations

2. The country dialogue process is an ongoing consultation at the national level to
develop and strengthen health strategies and systems, and form the basis of strong
funding applications. The process should be transparent and inclusive of a broad range
of all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve the best possible impact in investments in
the responses to HIV, TB, and malaria.
The country dialogue process has several key stages (see Figure 1). It begins with (1)
development of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) (or, for HIV, the UNAIDS
Investment Case), which prioritizes selected interventions, and then proceeds through
(2) GFATM-specific country dialogue and (3) concept note development. The concept
note is then (4) submitted to the Technical Review Panel (TRP), where it undergoes an
independent and transparent (5) review for highest impact and is presented to the Grant
Approval Committee (GAC) of the GFATM Secretariat, who recommends the level of
approved funding for (6) grant-making. At this stage the GFTAM Secretariat works with
the nominated PR to transform the concept note into a disbursement-ready grant, jointly
developing a performance framework, budget, and work plan. Then the grant goes
through a second review by the GAC, and the Secretariat submits it to the GFATM
Board for (7) approval. The last step is (8) implementation, marking the beginning of the
grant period.
1.
NSP
Figure 1: Ongoing Country Dialogue Process under the New Funding Model
2.
Country
Dialogue
3.
Concept
Note
4. Submission
5. Review
6. Grant-making
7. Approval
8. Implementation
The GFATM has identified funding “windows” over the next 2 years, with specific
submission dates corresponding to TRP meeting dates to review submissions. For 2015,
the funding windows for concept note submission are the months of January, April, July,
and September, and for 2016, the month of April only. The GFATM will only accept one
concept note for each eligible disease or HSS between 2014 and 2016, so it is important
not to miss the window of engagement.
2015 Submission Dates
WINDOW
2
Concept Note
Submission TRP Review Secretariat
GAC Review
Approximate
Communication
to Applicant
Window 5 30 January 18-27 March April Mid May
Window 6 20 April 12-21 June July Late July

3. 3
WINDOW
Concept Note
Submission TRP Review Secretariat
GAC Review
Approximate
Communication
to Applicant
Window 7 15 July 31 August –
6 September October Late October
Window 8 15 September 2-8 November December Late December
How fast a CCM can move through the process of requesting and accessing grant funds
depends on the national context, grant disruption dates, how existing program activities
may change to reach more people, and other factors. The GFATM Secretariat estimates
that the process takes from 7 months (accelerated) to 17 months (long).
1. National Strategic Plan
Ideally, country NSPs form the basis of concept notes for programming
associated with HIV, TB and malaria. For the purposes of funding
applications, NSPs should be developed through a credible, independent,
inclusive, multi-stakeholder process that uses internationally agreed-upon
frameworks. (In cases where a country does not have a NSP, or
where one is no longer current, then an investment case may be
presented in the concept note in support of the funding request.)
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NSP
NSPs must be current and technically strong, based on epidemiological data
disaggregated by gender and KAP in the country. They should consider actions aimed at
promoting the development of informed, capable, and coordinated communities,
community-based organizations (CBOs), groups, networks, and structures. This enables
them to contribute to the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of health and other
interventions, including the development of an enabling and responsive environment.
This also means identifying human rights, gender, and other structural barriers to
accessing health services.
Key populations, human rights, and gender experts should all be consulted and
meaningfully engaged in the process of developing the NSP. Country teams at the
GFATM should support the process, and will encourage inclusivity, engaging with
technical partners to ensure that they are provided support as necessary at key points in
the process.
What you can do
! Familiarize yourself with your country’s NSP. If your country is in the process of
updating or revising its NSP, ask your Ministry of Health and your CCM
representative that KAP be included in the process.
! Review NSPs for all 3 diseases. Gap analysis of existing programs can be useful to
prioritize interventions. Ensure that prioritized interventions are fully costed. This will
make the concept note development process much smoother.
! Be ambitious. High-impact, well-performing programs can compete for additional
funding over and above the amount allocated to each country. If approved, these
programs will be eligible for any new funds that become available in 2015 and 2016.
Ideally, ambitious and creative requests should be based on the NSP or investment
case.

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! Advocate for support to collect, analyze, and understand the data and the drivers of
the epidemic. Ensuring your country has robust sub-national epidemiological data on
KAPs is necessary before concept note development, ideally as part of a national
program review. Countries without data will struggle to target limited resources to
where they will have the greatest impact. If your country lacks the necessary data,
you may be asked to collect it before being able to apply for funding.
2. Country Dialogue
The CCM relies on ongoing, inclusive, transparent, and country-owned
dialogue to inform and guide concept note development.
This dialogue forms part of and is built upon existing
coordination mechanisms in health and development that are
already taking place in many countries between governments,
donors, technical partners, civil society, key affected and most-at-
risk populations, human rights and gender experts, and other
involved stakeholders.
2.
Country
Dialogue
The GFATM emphasizes the importance of ongoing country dialogue in order to achieve
the best possible investments in the response to HIV, TB, and malaria, inclusive of HSS
and community systems strengthening (CSS) activities to increase impact. Country
dialogue, therefore, with a high level of KAP participation, is a fundamental requirement
for any concept note submission in the NFM. It is especially important to reach out to
and ensure direct representation of KAPs, including gay men and other MSM,
transgender people, sex workers, and people who inject drugs. In countries where these
groups are criminalized, discriminated against, or marginalized, people representing or
working with them can ensure their voices are heard within the CCM while building safe
spaces for direct involvement.
While proof of inclusive country dialogue is required for a funding application, the
process of country dialogue should continue through all stages of a grant cycle, from
developing the concept note to grant-making and implementation. In essence, country
dialogue is the axis around which the grant cycle evolves. Its vitality is a key determinant
for funding.
What you can do
! Take advantage. Civil society leaders and other KAP advocates can use the
requirement of an inclusive, robust, and transparent country dialogue to influence
priorities that are put in the country’s concept note.
! Kick off inclusive country dialogue, if not yet started. Think ahead about which
stakeholders should be involved and how to involve them. Be sure to include KAPs,
people living with the 3 diseases, civil society groups, government, academia, and of
course technical partners and experts. Also include specific sub-groups relevant to
each disease. Since this is an eligibility requirement for funding, the GFATM will
require proof that there was a transparent and inclusive process at the time the
concept note is submitted.
! Be proactive. Kick-start an inclusive dialogue among members of KAP communities,
rather than passively trying to participate in and shape a dialogue organized by the
CCM. Report the recommendations of KAP community activities to the CCM and
other stakeholders. Representatives of civil society who are officially part of the CCM
will be helpful partners in this effort.

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! During country dialogue, be sure to collaborate across diseases. Experience shows
that implementing collaborative TB and HIV activities achieves successful funding
outcomes. Investments in HSS and CSS improve effectiveness and efficiency of the
disease programs and benefit health programs and communities beyond the 3
diseases as well.
! Document. Report what happened - who, what, where, when and how.
! Get support from global key populations networks, and report it to members of the
Community Leadership and Action collaborative, and reach out to us at the MSMGF.
! Escalate it to the Fund Portfolio Manager, Regional manager or Community Rights
and Gender Department at the Global Fund.
! Follow Up Persistently . Country dialogue should continue into grant making to
ensure that the input of those who will benefit from the programs is taken into
account in their detailed design and that the latest technical and operational
guidance be used. Monitor the interventions and detailed budget during grant making
and after grant signing.
3. Concept Note
The country dialogue process results in the development of a
concept note through the CCM. Civil society has a critical role
making sure the NFM delivers positive results for communities.
The GFATM primarily receives funding requests from individual
countries made through a concept note template. A concept note
is developed for each disease and HSS component, except in
countries with high TB/HIV co-infection, where a single concept
note for both diseases is encouraged. The new funding application
documents include a template for the “standard concept note” for
3.
Concept
Note
HIV, TB, and malaria, core tables, instructions, and more.
Concept notes should include:
i. Requests for a specific amount of funding support
ii. Summary of the country context
iii. List of planned activities and interventions
They also require documentation of stakeholder involvement in the concept note
development process, particularly efforts to engage KAPs meaningfully. CCMs should
send concept notes to the Global Fund Country Team for periodic review. If needed, the
Secretariat will work with in-country partners to improve concept notes and ensure the
highest level of quality.
What you can do
! Contact your CCM. If you have a program or an organization and would like to seek
funding, it is the CCM that establishes the process and timeline for receiving funding
requests from potential implementers (PRs). Their plan is available. Make sure your
CCM knows that you would like to participate in the country dialogue which will be
the basis for writing the concept note. Contact your CCM civil society representative
by clicking on your country. If you have trouble engaging with the CCM civil society
representative, contact your Country Fund Portfolio Manager.
! Be prepared. Formulate a strong case for funding your activities, and demonstrate
how your planned activities will fit into the NSP and support national priorities to fight

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AIDS, TB, and malaria. Include any need for technical assistance or capacity
strengthening you foresee.
! Be informed. Download the GFTAM concept note template and related guidance
tools to become familiar with standard interventions and minimum standards for PRs.
Ensure your organization is prepared to undergo a rigorous screening process,
based on the GFATM’s minimum standards for PRs.
! Advocate for representation in the writing group.
! Review the concept note to ensure agreed interventions are included.
! Identify implementers most appropriate to deliver the activities and ensure impact.
! Watchdog. Ensure that your CCM is following minimum standards. There are six
eligibility requirements for CCM performance, including being open, transparent, and
inclusive. Review the eligibility requirements.
! Plan ahead. Consider when funding will be needed for each disease and plan
backwards based on your country context. The average timing for country dialogue
to grant disbursement is ten months if the CCM is functioning well. Review the list of
eligible countries. Consult the last MSMGF Community Update and GFTAM related
information.
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY, RIGHTS, AND GENDER-RELATED PROGRAMMING
The GFTAM Strategy, Investing for Impact 2012-2016, has 5 objectives. One of these
commits to protecting and promoting human rights by:
i. Integrating human rights considerations throughout the grant cycle
ii. Increasing investment in programs that address human rights-related barriers to
access
iii. Ensuring the GFTAM does not support programs that infringe on human rights
The GFTAM’s mandate focuses on ensuring access to health services and promoting
the right to health. Under the NFM, applicants are strongly encouraged to incorporate
human rights programming into their concept notes.
The GFTAM funds several areas meant to ensure all people have access to quality
health services that are free from discrimination. That includes support for:
! CSS in order to monitor programs, mobilize the community sector and advocate
for change
! Supporting the response to the 3 diseases by delivering health services outside
of the formal health sector, and providing the necessary institutional capacity
building to community sector organizations, including MSM and lesbian gay
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations, enabling them to fulfill this role
! Law reform, legal aid services, and human rights training for communities,
officials, police, and health workers
! Human rights monitoring and advocacy
! Monitoring for program quality
! Efforts to tackle barriers that increase the vulnerability of KAP to HIV infection
and that limit their access to health and related services

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These programming components were designed to ensure that the particular concerns
of civil society organizations and KAPs are taken into account in funding applications
under the NFM.
What you can do
! Learn more. Read the GFTAM’s “Guidance and Information notes ” entitled: (i)
Addressing Women, Girls, and Gender Equality; (ii) Community Systems
Strengthening; (iii) Harm Reduction; (iv) Addressing Sex Work; (v) MSM and
Transgender People; and (v) Human Rights. On the same page, review information
notes on each of the 3 diseases and on HSS, including information on how to
incorporate community, rights, and gender concerns.
• Under “Thematic Guidance and Information Notes”
▫ Information Note: Addressing gender inequalities and strengthening responses
for women and girls
▫ Information Note: Addressing sex work, MSM and transgender people in the
context of the HIV epidemic
▫ Information Note: Community Systems Strengthening
▫ Information Note: Harm reduction for people who use drugs
▫ Information Note: Human Rights for HIV, TB, Malaria and HSS Grants
▫ Community Systems Strengthening Framework (English and Russian)
• Action Plans and Frameworks
▫ Gender Equality Strategy Action Plan (English and French)
• Operational Guides
▫ Engage – The Brochure – a short guide that provides advice on how civil
society organizations, communities, and key populations can get involved in
Global Fund process
• E-learning
▫ Achieving Inclusive Country Dialogue e-learning module (English and Spanish)
▫ Engage: Practical tips f to ensure the new funding model delivers the impact
communities need
The MSMGF is expanding its work as a technical partner throughout the implementation
of the NFM and will provide regular updated briefings in order to improve the level of
knowledge and engagement of country-level MSM to ensure sustainability of HIV
programs for the most affected communities.
Future briefings will examine key issues as they arise.
For any questions, please contact Nadia Rafif, Senior Policy Advisor, nrafif@msmgf.org.