RISE Up!

New study finds opportunities to strengthen robust community engagement and improve functioning of Global Fund grantmaking processes

April 23, 2024

The RISE (Representation, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Equity) study is an independent, community-owned research project led by a steering committee of 13 members from 11 countries that examines the grantmaking processes of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

New study finds opportunities to strengthen robust community engagement and improve functioning of Global Fund grantmaking processes. — The RISE steering committee, which is made up of community CCM representatives, advocates, and global academic and research partners, at first meeting in Casablanca, Morocco

One of the lead authors, Jennifer Sherwood, amfAR’s director of research at the Andelson Office of Public Policy, discusses study methodology. — One of the lead authors, Jennifer Sherwood, PhD, director of research at amfAR’s Andelson Office of Public Policy, discusses study methodology.

The RISE study sought to gather high-quality empirical data on the meaningful participation of communities and civil society in Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs), which are national committees that develop and submit funding requests to the Global Fund and oversee grant-supported programs. CCMs are comprised of representatives of all sectors involved in the response to the three diseases.

RISE study authors conducted a survey as well as in-depth individual interviews with over 650 eligible participants from 83 countries. The findings underscore the importance of community ownership and investment in community-designed solutions to improving Global Fund grantmaking and oversight.

While the study affirms the vital role of CCMs in the Global Fund partnership across all stages of the funding cycle, the authors identified several opportunities to enhance community engagement with CCMs and Global Fund processes. They offer seven recommendations, from making the funding process more transparent to bolstering support for peer-to-peer mentoring of community CCM representatives and removing barriers to meaningful community engagement.

The RISE group launched the report at a side event at the Global Fund’s 51^st Board Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 22, 2024. The group includes representatives from Aides, amfAR, Association de lutte contre sida, Coalition Plus, Malaysian AIDS Council, Ishtar MSM, MATRAM, the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Positive Generation, REVS+, SISTERS Foundation, Treatment Action Campaign, and Uganda Young Positives.

Read the full report here.

Portuguese version here.

French version here.

Russian version here.

Spanish version here.