How does the Global Fund support SRH/HIV Integration?

The Global Fund is an international funding mechanism that provides financial and technical support to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  Unlike other international donors, the Global Fund does not implement programs.  Instead, it puts the power of implementation in the hands of recipient countries and encourages the participation of civil society, as well as, public-private partnerships.  This approach means that countries can apply for Global Fund financing to fund gaps in policies, programs, and services that affect HIV outcomes.  For many countries, a major gap exists in the integration of SRH and HIV. 

The Global Fund has demonstrated its support to funding SRH /HIV integration through a series of policy declarations and strategies released over the past several years.

• In 2008, the Global Fund approved a Gender Equity Strategy in order to expand the Global Fund’s investments in programs focused on women and girls. The strategy emphasizes funding for programs that empower women and girls so they can protect themselves, by having access to sexual and reproductive health care and activities that strengthen SRH -HIV/AIDS service integration.
• In 2007, the Global Fund issued a “gender-decision point” marking its commitment to reviewing the strategy of all Global Fund mechanisms to ensure a gender-sensitive response in all Global Fund programming.
• In 2007, the Global Fund began requiring country applicants to include civil society organizations as a primary recipient of funding.  This mechanism, known as “Dual Track Financing” presents an opportunity for CSOs that offer both HIV and SRH services to play a larger role in Global Fund processes and program implementation.
• In 2007, the Global Fund affirmed its commitment to Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) by instituting funding guidelines specific to HSS.  The focus on health systems provides a good opportunity for SRH /HIV integration through promoting joint facilities, commodity supply chain management, and training and education related to SRH and HIV.

In 2006, the Global Fund affirmed that it would support SRH /HIV integration if the impact of such measures could be clearly demonstrated to have an impact on HIV.