In April 2025, The Global Fund initiated Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) adaptation measures, signaling reduced allocations and a need to adjust programs due to funding challenges. This triggered a rapid revision process with tight deadlines, aiming for completion by September.
Recognizing the urgency, Seven Alliance, The Asia Pacific Learning Hub (APRLH) in collaboration with GFAN AP, proactively stepped in and organized two crucial webinars: “Update from the 53rd Global Fund Board Meeting & GC7 Reprioritization” on 29 May 2025, and a “GC7 Reprioritization Deep Dive” on 6 June 2025. These webinars aimed to equip communities and civil society with vital information, foster dialogue, and provide practical entry points to engage meaningfully in the GC7 reprioritization and revision process, ensuring life-saving services are protected.
The first webinar (29 May 2025), featuring speakers Ikka Noviyanti (Developing NGO Community Member), Maurine Murenga (Communities Delegation), and Vitaly Djuma (Developed Country NGO Delegation)—all Global Fund board members—summarized the outcomes of the 53rd Global Fund Board Meeting amid global challenges and funding shortfalls. Discussions focused on GC7 reprioritization, raising concerns about its potential harm to community-led responses and human rights, and the alarming dilution of rights-based language alongside underinvestment in human rights and community engagement. Worries about a smaller, commoditized Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) were also expressed, with the Board Vice-Chair urging recommitment to core principles.
The speakers called for a dedicated, direct funding stream for criminalized key populations and strengthened country accountability mechanisms. They stressed navigating reprioritization without harming essential services, reaffirming the Global Fund’s role in global health security, and ensuring multi-country grants for human rights and gender equality. Key priorities included clear guidance on “lifesaving” interventions (with enablers), continued Community, Rights, and Gender (CRG) program funding, retaining catalytic investments, direct civil society organizations (CSO) funding, early inclusive country coordinating mechanism (CCM) engagement, dedicated upper middle-income countries (UMICs) funding for civil society, and including prevention/human rights/gender/key population (KP) programs in GC8 priorities.
The “GC7 Reprioritization Deep Dive” webinar (6 June 2025), with Anna Maalsen (The Global Fund), Kanna Dharmarajah (Frontline AIDS) and Chinmy Kumar (Seven Alliance/Asia Pacific Regional Learning Hub (APRLH)), clarified the mid-cycle grant revision process, emphasizing collaboration to preserve life-saving services. Key timelines: by 30 June 2025, Principal Recipients (PRs) and CCMs will receive revised funding letters (single grants require no in-country adjustments; multi-grant CCMs have a two-week review for allocation changes, requiring civil society endorsement). All revised grants are due to the Secretariat by 19 August 2025, with a hard deadline of end-September for finalization.
Anna also highlighted the core programmatic priorities that includes continuity of life-saving services, maintaining access and equity, and preserving essential health and community systems (including human rights programming). Decisions must be country-driven, prioritizing value for money and stakeholder engagement. Community-led monitoring (CLM) remains an absolute priority, along with investment in community-led organizations and peer cadres. The process aims for inclusivity, with the secretariat monitoring for shifts away from civil society implementers.
Published on: 01-Jul-2025
About the contributor
Asia Pacific Regional Learning Hub
hosted by Seven Alliance:
Seven Alliance is a consortium of seven regional networks—APCOM, APN+, APNSW, APTN, ICW-AP, NAPUD, and Youth LEAD—working to strengthen community-led responses across Asia and the Pacific by promoting effective leadership and advocacy. Supported by the Global Fund, Seven Alliance established the Asia Pacific Regional Learning Hub (APRLH) to enhance peer learning and access to timely, relevant information. Operating under the Community Engagement Strategic Initiative (CE SI), the APRLH amplifies updates and best practices, facilitates diverse learning platforms, and assists with technical support. Ultimately, it aims to ensure communities access vital Global Fund information and drive program quality through shared global guidance.
