Over recent years the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Secretariat has rolled out programmatic assurance planning for high impact and risk countries with the aim of focusing on key risks and ensuring that a differentiated approach is tailored to the specific needs and approaches of each country.
Aims of the review
The thematic review aimed to analyse the Global Fund’s assurance model and mechanisms in relation to programmatic risk. The objectives of the review included: assessing the progress made by the Secretariat on programmatic assurance, especially looking at current approaches and tools; assessing whether the current mechanisms provide adequate assurance concerning the risk of under-achievement of public health impact; analysing how to obtain adequate programmatic assurance while keeping the system agile; and providing recommendations on how to improve assurance mechanisms for programmatic risks and suggestions of additional/alternative options and tools.
Our approach
Itad led a consortium, in association with Euro Health Group, to deliver the review with a team of experts in designing, monitoring and evaluating international health and development projects. Data collection was undertaken through: a review of documentation on risk and programme assurance systems and processes; a systematic review of Global Fund programme risk and assurance reports; an implementer survey and a provider survey; key informant interviews both within the Global Fund and externally; and three in-country and light-touch case studies. Recommendations were presented to the Global Fund Technical Evaluation Reference Group (TERG).
Image © Dr Kamara gains experience at Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Credit: Simon Davis/DFID (CC BY 2.0)
