Civil Society Statement on Catalytic Funding

May 2022

During the next Board Meeting, the board will take a decision regarding how Catalytic Investments will be allocated in the next implementation cycle (2024-2026). Catalytic Investment, alongside country allocations, is a critical component of the implementation of the new 2023-2028 Strategy. Many community-led, human right and gender transformative interventions that are championed by civil society and communities fall under the priorities for catalytic funding. GFAN members are therefore deeply interested in the outcome of these discussions.

We hope that the board will hear and consider the following points ahead of its decision on Catalytic Investments:

  • Catalytic Investments allow the Global Fund to fill essential gaps left by country grants, finance multi-country initiatives and advocacy efforts that are essential to the continuing lifting of barrier of access to care and prevention. It is important that enough funds are made available through catalytic funding for it to have systemic effects. We urge the board not to set too low a cap for Catalytic Investments.
  • Catalytic Funding has been used in past cycles to fund Community System Strengthening programs and human right and gender programs, which are core to two of the Contributory Objectives under the 2023-2028 Strategy – ‘Maximizing the Engagement and Leadership of Most Affected Communities to Leave No One Behind’ & ‘Maximizing Health Equity, Gender Equality and Human Rights’. We urge the board to ensure that the central importance given to these objectives in the strategy is reflected in the Catalytic Investments priorities.
  • The revised disease split approved during the 46th Board Meeting did not meet the expectations of TB communities and civil societies. A drastic increase in funding is required to address the crisis facing communities affected by TB, a crisis reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We urge the board to ensure that TB be given the highest priority for Catalytic Investments.
  • A particular challenge faced by TB Communities has been the lack of robust and empowered ground-level community networks. The establishment and strengthening of these networks in all Global Fund countries implementing TB grants should be explicitly prioritized among Catalytic Investments priorities, to ensure that the voices of TB affected communities are elevated throughout the implementation cycle.