Pillar 1: Unity- Strong Connections 

Rationale: GFAN gathers a global, multilingual, and diverse network of advocates committed to the Global Fund and HIV, TB, and malaria. In the face of shrinking civic space and donor retreat, meaningful connection across regions, languages, and strategies is more vital than ever. This pillar focuses on building trusted relationships, fostering horizontal learning, building out next-generation leadership, and enabling civil society to influence global health governance at all levels.

Unity reinforces GFAN’s structure as a global family of connected but autonomous regional partners. The GFAN Secretariat, GFAN Africa, and GFAN Asia-Pacific share a common vision and shared advocacy priorities. Each hub brings distinct strengths and context-specific leadership: GFAN Africa and GFAN Asia-Pacific anchor regional advocacy and resource mobilisation, while GFAN Secretariat focuses on donor country advocacy and on linking implementing country priorities to donor capitals. This structure ensures complementarity and coherence, avoids duplication and strengthens the collective impact of the network. To maximize its effectiveness, GFAN collaborates with other delegations and global health networks, e.g., Stop TB Partnership and Unitaid. Collective work leads to efficiency in information gathering and effective support of the Global Fund.

Objective: GFAN is a trusted and inclusive space for exchange, solidarity, and collective action, that supports coordination across communities, levels and platforms relevant to those advocating for the Global Fund and the three diseases.

Continued from previous strategy: GFAN remains committed to convening a global, diverse network of advocates through regular calls, global and regional convenings, and collaboration with regional partners. GFAN will continue to build its reputation as a trusted space where advocates, technical partners, and constituencies can align strategies and action through collaboration.

Expanded focus: Unity evolves from connection to influence, supporting civil society engagement in multilateral global-health governance while maintaining core focus on the Global Fund. GFAN will seek to strengthen and clarify collaborations with the NGO and Communities delegations to the Global Fund Board, pursue deeper alignment with regional partners, and grow leadership skills across its members. Youth and emerging leaders will be engaged and intentionally integrated through representation in GFANs convenings and governance processes and possibly more integrated modalities such as internships or fellowships. GFAN will continue to grow its engagement with other financing institutions, e.g., foundations, other multilateral instruments, and donor countries, when requested by members and regional GFAN partners.

Anticipated Outcomes:

• Enhanced visibility of underrepresented regions in global advocacy spaces.
• Stronger integration of youth, regional, and language-diverse perspectives and defining and seeking funding for new modalities to support meaningful inclusion of these and other underrepresented groups.
• GFAN recognised as a model for inclusive, decentralised, and multilingual convening.