Yesterday, Rwanda signed a $204 million (around Rwf138bn) grant with the Global Fund for implementation of the five-year national strategic plan (2013-2018) to curb HIV/Aids through this innovative financing mechanism. The innovative approach is expected to significantly contribute to improve the efficiency of the fight against HIV in Rwanda in terms of increasing impact.
This new approach is designed to allow management of the program that is aligned with existing national systems and strategy, and reduce administrative burden and cost, all this within a harmonized framework that ensures mutual accountability.
At the signing of the agreement, Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho said the Global Fund, which boosted the confidence and relations between the two parties, registered success under the previous funding mechanisms.
“This is a great approach, it will encourage accountability and result-based performance,” said Dr. Binagwaho, adding that “Rwanda will sustain the universal access to treatment and care, reduce new infections by two-thirds, and halve the number of HIV/Aids related deaths in the next five years.”
It is the first time that the Global Fund is using this approach in an implementing country, and Rwanda has been chosen to pioneer this model, because of its track record of success in the financial management of health programs.
Under the agreement, Rwanda will continue to monitor the achievement of universal access to HIV treatment and care for people living with HIV, and the reduction of new infections for key affected populations. The Global Fund will jointly verify the results with Rwanda.
“The main idea is to empower a high-performing country like Rwanda to further invest for higher impact,” said Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Chair of the Board of the Global Fund. “Rwanda is able to apply this approach because it has an outstanding HIV program, a robust HIV and AIDS national strategic plan, and strong financial and monitoring systems.”
The Global Fund will be looking into extending the approach to other countries, and also consider it for tuberculosis and malaria grants in Rwanda.
The grant-signing event coincided with the celebration of the 10-year partnership between the Rwandan Government and Global Fund, which has seen the latter cumulatively grant Rwanda close to $ 900 million
