Optimising Global Fund’s Grant Cycle 7

We undertook a project in partnership with the Euro Health Group (EHG) to analyse the Global Fund's (GF) Funding Request and Grant-Making (FR-GM) processes for Grant Cycle 7 (GC7). The GF is a crucial international financing institution, and any inefficiencies in how funds are requested and grants are approved can significantly impede the global fight against major diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

The core challenge was to determine if the GC7 FR-GM processes resulted in high-quality grants that genuinely aligned with national health priorities and supported the overarching GF strategy for 2023-2028. We needed to understand if the current procedures were fit for purpose and where they could be simplified or rationalised.

To address this, we conducted a rigorous quantitative secondary data analysis. We worked with existing internal and external GF datasets, assessing each for its utility, relevance, completeness, and quality. A key initial step involved data mapping to link the quantitative data directly to the critical steps in the FR-GM process. We meticulously cleaned and processed the datasets using STATA v17.0 to ensure accuracy, removing duplicates, and clearly defining all variables.

In our analysis, we explored, quantified, and adjusted various datasets, including questionnaire responses. We modified non-numerical data, such as Likert scale responses, into numerical values to facilitate structured quantitative analysis. Furthermore, we investigated free-form text data, coding it into key themes relevant to the evaluation. We critically examined timelines between FR-GM submissions against GF recommendations to identify potential bottlenecks.

By identifying the key data, drivers, and barriers in the FR-GM stages, we provided actionable insights. Our findings helped to assess whether the GC7 grant procedures were effective and efficient. This work served as a foundation for the Global Fund to implement improvements, rationalisation, and simplification in its processes, ultimately aiming to ensure that vital funding reaches countries more effectively and supports programmes that deliver the greatest health impact.