All players involved with Global Fund must take responsibility for 'past failures,' future support

Feb 1 2012

"The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria has proved to be one of the world's most important and innovative multilateral funding agencies," a Financial Times editorial states. Therefore, "[t]he abrupt reshuffle of top management last week" – with the resignation of Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine and the appointment of General Manager Gabriel Jaramillo – "must not distract attention from its achievements over the past decade, which on their own justify further donor support," the editorial continues. "[T]here is a need to re-examine the agency's management and operations, particularly when squeezed donors are seeking better value for money," and that involves "scrutinizing grant applications to ensure its stretched finances go to the neediest: those with fewest resources, the highest disease burden, and policies that do most to prevent and treat infection," the editorial states.

"That requires a very different set of skills than those expected of Mr. Kazatchkine when he was appointed to build an organization still in its infancy. It also implies a more active role from Global Fund directors, with greater accountability imposed on the board of donor and recipient governments, non-profit groups and businesses. They must share the blame for past failures and extend more selective support in the future," the editorial concludes (1/31).