New momentum for the 5% Initiative

For eight years, France has been providing technical and financial support to some 50 eligible countries in addition to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The record is impressive, and the usefulness and relevance of this complementary approach is praised by both the Global Fund and external assessment and by the recipient countries themselves.

The steering committee of the 5% Initiative is finalising a new strategy for the coming years. This is essential because countries are expressing the need for a change in the support that Expertise France provides. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and with a unique governance (since it is composed of representatives from AFD, the world of research, the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, civil society, etc.), the Initiative will focus on four strategic priorities:

The 5% Initiative at the Global Fund Replenishment Conference Expertise France/5% Initiative, in partnership with the Institute of Civil Society for Health in Western and Central Africa and with the support of UNAIDS, is organising a session dedicated to the perspectives and ambitions of the contribution of African civil societies to the next round of Global Fund financing. • Quand ? October 9th, from 8 to 9:20 AM • Where? Lyon Congress Centre

1. Technical assistance to eligible countries, including French-speaking countries: this helps to increase their access to Global Fund financing and to increase the efficiency of Global Fund grants. It sometimes requires finding an emergency expert to solve a problem that puts at risk a part of the fight against pandemics; some other times, it is about taking the time, with technical assistants on the ground, to co-build local skills. Technical assistance remains at the exclusive request of countries, but they are requesting planning terms and conditions.

2. The impact of Global Fund financing is and will be increased by promoting and supporting complementary, catalytic programmes. The Initiative's donor work aims to contribute to a change in practices on the ground (in prevention, care or treatment, in the management of health systems, etc.). At the same time, the Initiative also aspires to change health policies, including by supporting operational research to convince policy makers and stakeholders. Strengthening health systems, attention to vulnerable populations and rebalancing between diseases, with bridges to co-infections and co-morbidities, are priorities.

3. The knowledge available to the 5% Initiative, which is very rich on the countries and issues it deals with every day, allows already-existing monitoring-assessment exercises. Beyond the steering role of the support provided, it is an opportunity for learning and capitalisation that should be strengthened and valued. And ultimately, this will better feed the partners, the Global Fund and of course the French management of the Global Fund. This implies a more extensive work of analyses and valuing, especially scientific.

4. Influence, a logical follow-up to the previous three pillars, aims to increase opportunities to contribute to the evolution of the Global Fund's financing model. This requires enhanced participation in partner and expert forums that provide the Global Fund secretariat in Geneva with valuable feedback to understand what may be dysfunctional and what does work well. Lastly, it is an ambition that serves the French management of the Global Fund, both at the level of its board of directors and the committees in which France takes part.

As part of a unified France team, strengthened by the diversity of its members, Expertise France fully contributes to the French strategy for global health. This includes strengthening health systems and fighting disease. The 5% Initiative is an essential milestone in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, responsible last year for 2.5 million deaths.

Check out the latest activity report of the 5% Initiative

Find out more on www.initiative5pour100.fr