The 49th General Assembly of the Global Fund Board was held in Hanoi (Vietnam). The various Boards of Directors from Europe, America, Asia and Africa discussed development strategies, governance oversight, commitment of financial resources, assessment of organizational performance, risk management, partnership engagement, resource mobilization and advocacy.
The African delegation was made up of about twenty administrators from West and Central Africa as well as those from East and South. Dr. Jean-Jacques Mbungani Mbanda, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Constituency Bureau (ACB) of the Global Fund, led this African delegation.
The members of the African Council reaffirmed their commitment to the policy of building local capacities and called for a broader approach involving governments as well as regional and continental structures, such as the Africa CDC, under the aegis of the African Union. The African Council has also advocated for the supply of locally produced medicines.
The preliminary meetings on the sidelines of the annual session of the General Assembly were an opportunity for the African delegation to meet representatives of the private sector, the General Inspectorate of the Fund, the counsels of Germany, France and England for specific discussions as well as the Commonwealth Development Office.
The Global Fund is a major international funding program for the fight against the pandemics of tuberculosis, HIV and malaria. The Board meets on average twice a year and comprises 20 voting members, with equal representation from implementers and donors.
Voting members include nongovernmental organizations, communities affected by HIV, TB, and malaria, the private sector, and private foundations. In addition, there are eight non-voting members, including the chairman and vice-chairman of the board; representatives of partner organizations, including the World Health Organization and the World Bank; as well as the constituency of additional public donors.
Africa has two seats on the Global Fund Board of the 28 available