UNDP Zimbabwe Country Office Signs the Global Fund Round 5 Grants

August 2009

The Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (GFATM) Round 5 grants were signed between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zimbabwe and the Global Fund on the 7 August 2009. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) - Dr Henry Madzorera and a representative of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on the CCM - Ms Primrose Matambanadzo. To demonstrate the Government’s commitment and support for the programme, the ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and several senior government officials. Under the GFATM Round 5 Zimbabwe will receive a total of US$37.9million to fight the 3 epidemics and to revive the public health sector in Zimbabwe. US$ 5.69 million will go towards Tuberculosis (TB), US$ 11.78 million towards Malaria and US$20.40 million to HIV and AIDS.

During the ceremony, Dr Agostinho Zacarias the UNDP Resident Representative, noted that despite the reported decline in HIV/AIDS prevalence, Zimbabwe remains among countries hardest hit by HIV and AIDS and the productive age groups of the population are bearing the brunt of the epidemic. This situation has been compounded by the decline of the country’s economy and deteriorating health system experienced over the past decade. The assistance from the Global Fund will go a long way to alleviate some of these challenges with the bulk of the grants’ funding directed towards supporting the national response to HIV/AIDS. In his closing remarks, Dr Zacarias emphasised UNDP’s commitment in taking over the Principal Recipient role to revive the flow of Global Fund grants to the country. UNDP takes the responsibility of PR seriously and will work together with other UN agencies to ensure that the GFATM resources are managed efficiently and effectively so that the people most in need of health services are reached and benefit from the programmes.

In his remarks, Dr Fareed Abdullah, Africa Unit Director of the Global Fund acknowledged Zimbabwe’s troubled history over the past 18 months and mismanagement of Global Fund funds by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) which resulted in the suspension of Global Fund disbursements into the country and the eventual invocation of the Additional Safeguard Policy (ASP) on Global Fund grants. Under this policy the Global Fund Secretariat has imposed a risk mitigation strategy and requested that UNDP Zimbabwe assumes Principal Recipient responsibilities of Round 5 grants and Round 8 grants with renewed hope in the country.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai stated that the signing of the Round 5 grants with the UNDP signified the Global Fund’s resumed support to Zimbabwe’s health sector and the growing confidence of the international community in the new unity government. Given the unacceptable work conditions that health workers in the country have been subjected to, the Prime Minister noted that the Global Fund grants will go a long way in addressing their plight.
 
UNDP as the Principal Recipient will oversee and disburse the grants towards prevention and treatment programmes to be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (Sub- recipient for Malaria and Tuberculosis) and the National AIDS Council (Sub- recipient for HIV/AIDS). Furthermore, the UNDP will assume all procurement and distribution responsibilities under the three grants. This arrangement is time- bound and as PR, the UNDP Country Office will provide the necessary capacity building support to one or more local institutions with the view that they will eventually take over as Principal Recipient(s).

For more information on the Grants click on the following links:

GFATM - HIV/AIDS
GFATM - Malaria
GFATM - Tuberculosis