CSAT Action Alert: 8th Call for Proposals of the Global Fund – 8 Urgent Actions

The Global Fund has made it clear that in order to make universal access a reality, proposals in Round 8 and beyond will need to be more ambitious than ever. The Global Fund also recognises that one of the most promising ways of achieving this is to further promote the involvement of the civil society sector. The Round 8 Call for Proposals therefore places a clearer emphasis than ever on civil society involvement in three interrelated ways:

• Increasing the focus on key affected populations
• Dual track financing (government and non-government Principal Recipients)
• Community Systems Strengthening

The changes made by the Global Fund to the Round 8 application process are designed to make it easier for the civil society sector to play an active, effective role in the design and implementation of Global Fund grants.

Round 8 represents a major opportunity for ensuring that new Global Fund grants incorporate an enhanced role for civil society. Civil society organisations are encouraged to seize this opportunity. The deadline for proposal submission is 1 July 2008: this is not long away given the complexity of the proposal development process. In order to make the most of the opportunities offered by Round 8, civil society organisations need to get involved now.

Here are eight key actions that civil society organisations should consider undertaking immediately:

• Find out more about the Global Fund and Round 8
• Find out more about Global Fund projects in your country or region
• Find out what the CCM is planning for Round 8 proposals.
• Consult within the civil society sector.
• Mobilize your civil society colleagues and partner organizations to advocate for greater attention to the civil society contribution and participation
• Get involved in the process to develop the Round 8 proposal.
• Get support.
• Keep track of the process for Round 8.

To access guidance on how to take these 8 actions for Round 8, and for further information on the new opportunities for civil society, download the full CSAT Action Alert inEnglish, Espanol, русском

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* Civil Society Action Team (CSAT)

CSAT is a new civil society-led global initiative that coordinates, brokers, and advocates for technical support to civil society organizations implementing or seeking grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund). CSAT’s key priorities are:

* Mobilise a civil society response to under-performing grants;
* Improve availability of quality technical support for civil society organizations involved in implementation of the Global Fund grants;
* Improve the quality of Global Fund-related proposals prepared by civil society organizations.