Global Fund approves $171.5 million grant for Malawi
The Global Fund, which stopped channelling funds through the National Aids Commission (Nac) over alleged mismanagement, has approved grants amounting to $171 million to fight against tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria in the country.
A letter dated October 20 2017, and signed by the Fund’s Regional Manager Charlotte Kristiansson to Secretary to Treasury in the Ministry of Finance Ben Botolo, said that the decision to assist Malawi follows a request government made in March 2017.
“We are pleased to inform you that the board has approved the funding. The progress Malawi has made towards the global fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria is appreciated,” reads the letter in part
In 2015, the Fund “pulled the plug” on the funding going to Nac – a public trust meant to spearhead the fight against HIV and Aids.
Instead, they started channelling the assistance through the Ministry of Health and the charity ActionAid rather than through Nac, which was accused of financial mismanagement, including the purchase of vehicles that were not budgeted for.
The principal recipients for the Global Fund grants in Malawi now are Ministry of Health, World Vision and ActionAid.
Ministry of Health and ActionAid have received about $110.4 million for TB and HIV and Aids-related programmes while $61.09 million has gone to the Ministry of Health and World Vision Malawi for malaria fight.
Kristiansson said the board’s approval means that the Global Fund Secretariat is now ready for signing of the relevant legal documents, including grants confirmations.
An in-country signing ceremony has been planned to take place on November 9 2017.
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