WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE Sixtieth session Manila, Philippines 21-25 September 2009 Agenda item 10
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22 September 2009 ORIGlNAL: ENGLISH
STATEMENT BY THE GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA (GPATM) By Ms Ann Bourgeot We would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to address this meeting, which for us represents not only the WHO Regional Committee meeting but also the Global Fund's Board constituency for this region. This meeting is particularly important for the Global Fund, as all of you will vote, on Wednesday evening, for the next Board member, Alternate Board member and Focal Point to the Global Fund from this region, positions which are currently held by China and the Solomon Islands. Our Board approves applications for funding submitted to the Global Fund, sets strategies and policy direction for us, and provides oversight. The Global Fund is a partnership that relies at all levels on the effective engagement of its partners. At the country level this is the Country Coordinating Mechanism, at the level of our Board it is the board member selected by this group. This constituency, the Western Pacific Region, has ownership of the Board member selection process. The Global Fund model insists on the important principle that the region, as a 'whole, has the right to select representatives to our Board anti that you have the right to determine the appropriate consultation process to achieve this. We have published guidelines that offer practical insights into processes that should be followed to ensure adequate representation. These guidelines also describe the key role of Board members in maintaining a focus on issues of interest to the constituency and in seeking input on issues to be considered by the Board prior to the meetings. We recommend that constituencies establish a unanimous position on issues before attending the Board meeting. Regional meetings such as this 60 th session of the WHO Regional Committee are excellent opportunities for such consultation. Constituencies on the Global Fund Board may face challenges: Next week our Board's Policy and Strategy Committee will consider an important document on "More effectively engaging implementing board constituencies in Global Fund governance processes". This looks at giving support to constituencies that face challenges including size of the constituency, physical distance, diverse languages, and different degrees of understanding of the Global Fund. To effectively manage communication and decision-making in this complex context, constituencies often require material and human resources at a scale often not available to the constituency. The Global Fund Secretariat proposes to provide direct fmancial support to the constituencies to cover a part of these costs (e.g., salaries, communication). Your representative to our Board contributes to taking these decisions.
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We strongly urge you to attend the session organized by the current Board member and Alternate from this region, China and the Solomon Islands, at 17: 15 on Wednesday, to elect the representatives to the Global Fund from this region for the next two years.