Cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the Global Fund represents an innovative approach to international health financing.
The Swiss Centre for International Health (SCIH) acts as Local Fund Agent (LFA) for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in the following countries:
- Burkina Faso
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Niger
- Maldives
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Syria
- West Bank and Gaza
In its role as LFA, The Swiss Centre for International Health conducts initial assessments of in-country partner capacities in the field of programme and financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and procurement and supply management. Based on the LFA's initial assessment the scope of technical assistance to strengthen in-country partners' capacities is defined.
Development partners may provide or participate in such capacity building activities. LFA services further include the on-going performance monitoring of programme process. During implementation the LFA mainly acts as knowledge broker and provides independent, qualified advice to both the GFATM and in-country stakeholders by complying with guidelines and instructions drawn up by the GFATM. As the GFATM follows the performance–based funding approach, special attention of the LFA's work is dedicated not only to the performance of programmes but also to the verification of the accountable use of funds. The review and verification of disbursement requests, progress reports, fiscal-year reports, and audit reports provided by the fund recipient is part of the LFA's work as well. (2013)