§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects have so far received funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. [71011]
§ Clare shortSince approving its first round of proposals, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has been working intensively with recipients to agree financial management and monitoring arrangements. Funding will flow as soon as these arrangements are in place.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress made by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in fighting AIDS. [71009]
§ Clare shortThe Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is now legally established as a foundation in Switzerland. WHO is providing administrative support and the World bank is the trustee. The first board meeting of the fund took place in Geneva in late January 2002 during which the legal and framework documents for the purpose, scope and operations of the fund were approved. The second Global Fund Board in April made two key decisions. It selected Richard Feachem as Executive Director, and approved funding for the first tranche of proposals. Of 380 proposals received, 40 programmes in 31 countries were approved, totalling $378 million over two years. A further 18 proposals from 12 countries were approved subject to clarifications, totalling $238 million over two years. Total pledges to the fund now amount to around US $2 billion. The UK has pledged $200 million over five years, and has already distributed its first tranche of $40 million.
Over the coming months, the fund will be clarifying fiduciary and other arrangements for approved first round proposals, with funding flowing as clarifications are received. It is also engaged in improving the application process for the second round. There will be a policy Board in October and a second round of proposals for which the closing date will be around early October and which will be considered at a January Board meeting.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether she intends to continue to fund the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in the next financial year. [71010]
§ Clare shortAs I have made clear we have committed £500 million to the Global Fund over the next five years.