Global Fund’s 54th Board Meeting: What Civil Society Need to Know
The Global Fund held its 54th Board Meeting on 11 – 13 February 2026, marking a critical milestone in agreeing the amount of funds for Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) – being US$ 10.780 billion for the 2026-2028 allocation period and solidifying strategic shifts that will shape financing for HIV, TB, malaria, and resilient health systems.
The decisions taken ensure that GC8 processes and guidance can now move forward and set the terms for how countries will navigate a constrained but critical financing cycle. Strong, informed engagement from civil society will shape the outcomes for communities and people most affected by HIV, TB, malaria.
- Set grant cycle-specific transition pathways: Transition timelines with predictable financing; focus on the most challenging sustainability issues.
- Place greater priority on lowest income and highest burden settings: Shift GF allocations to where disease progress affects global progress and domestic resources are most limited.
- Programmatic prioritization: Rigorous program prioritization; market shaping for introduction & scale of new innovations.
- Integration: Integrated program delivery within primary health care.
- Community systems & financing: Community systems integration and financing.
- Grow & optimize domestic resources: Differentiated co-financing approaches and optimize pooled procurement market access by domestic markets.
To support preparations, the Global Fund has published GC8 “Kick off Slides”. These are excellent and outline everything you need to know to engage. The presentations can be accessed here and are available via recording: English | Español | Français | Português or via presentation in English | Español | Français | Português
With allocation letters imminent and the GC8 application process now moving into full swing, civil society must remain vigilant, proactive and strategically positioned to influence every stage of planning, funding request development, and implementation.
DON’T FORGET that civil society organisations and communities must engage in an inclusive manner with Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCMs), monitor the process and report irregularities. The CCM eligibility criteria have not changed and country ownership includes setting an inclusive, transparent, participatory process led by national stakeholders. This is to be broadly participatory and not only government-run.
GC8 Allocation letters to arrive soon
With funding for GC8 now agreed, the Global Fund has confirmed that allocation letters will be released starting March 2026. These letters will contain the following, specific to each country:
- Allocation Amount + Allocation Utilization Period
- Application Approach
- Co-financing Requirements
- Aims of the Allocation + Priority Investment Areas
- Catalytic Investments (if applicable)
- Transition Pathways and Timelines
These allocation letters are ESSENTIAL. They signal the start of the funding request process and marks the beginning of a very tight engagement timeline. Be ready to be involved.
Prepare for tighter resources and greater prioritisation
GC8 will operate under tighter resource envelopes with greater prioritisation required. Countries may face transition pressures and expectations to mobilize additional domestic resources. Given the situation we must work hard to protect equity and rights:
- Equity, gender, human rights, and community priorities must remain central in resource allocation and programme design.
- Bring evidence, data, and community voices to national dialogue tables to ensure that rights-based approaches are not sidelined under tighter funding.
- Position civil society and community systems as impact investments with return on investment, not add-ons.
Understand your country’s transition pathway
The allocation letters will confirm whether countries are expected to transition out of Global Fund financing by the end of GC8 or GC9. If a country is indicated as transitioning within GC8, it has approximately four years to prepare strategically for this transition. This will have profound implications for planning, programme continuity and sustainability.
Engage early and actively: Mobilize early — this is not the time for complacency.
- National timelines for funding request development will be compressed and country dialogue windows will be shorter than normal.
- Request clear national planning timelines from Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs), Global Fund Country Teams, and Partners.
- Push for transparent documentation showing how civil society inputs will shape the funding request — if formal spaces for civil society and community priorities are not established, civil society must advocate for them.
Stay alert to Integration risks
While integration of services (across HIV, TB, malaria and health systems) can be effective, integration should not dilute focus on priority populations or disease-specific needs. Be clear on where integration adds value and where it could undermine targeted interventions, especially for key populations.
Monitor co-financing expectations
Countries will need to negotiate co-financing commitments, and civil society should be involved in monitoring whether domestic financing genuinely supports services for marginalised groups and populations at most risk. Be cautious where Memoranda of Understanding with other governments are in place that might limit flexibility in prioritising funding for communities and key populations.
Leverage catalytic investments
Catalytic investments (e.g. for human rights and gender, community systems, sustainability and transition, climate and health, market shaping) present opportunities to advocate for deeper engagement of civil society in programme design and public financial management. Don’t forget to ask how civil society and communities will be engaged in Public Financial Management which is also a key area of work under sustainability and transition.
Watch implementation arrangements & Principal Recipient (PR) selection
There are signals that GC8 may see less space for new or civil society-led PRs, with an expectation of simplified and centralised implementation. Civil society must push for transparent, competitive and inclusive PR selection processes that enable diverse and community-led implementers to participate.
Track transition and sustainability narratives
Transition can bring new pressures. Monitor related narratives carefully and ensure civil society and communities are part of discussions about how sustainability will be operationalised at the country level.
Digital processes & transparency
The shift towards digital processes may reduce visibility into draft documents and decision-making processes. Encourage CCMs and national partners to maintain transparency and provide regular updates to all stakeholders.
Document and share concerns
Collect and document challenges, gaps and concerns at country level, and feed this information back to both national platforms and the Global Fund Secretariat.
Important Guidance
Please note there are more guidance documents for GC8. At the moment, the documents are being revised to reflect feedback received, and further prioritisation and focus – please visit this page for more information and specifically this page for great core guidance on topics like integration.
We welcome your feedback on any of this – if you feel there are important things we have not captured please let us know so that we can keep adding it to the dedicated page on our website on GC8!
If you want more on GC8 also check out this user-friendly guide developed by GATE to assist trans-led organisations in effectively participating in GC8.
If you want more information on GC7 see Data Hub – which is a transparent and independent source of Global Fund Advocacy Data. This platform provides the information, resources, and data that communities need to advocate for an accountable Global Fund.
And we close with a reminder about the I SPEAK NOW. Anyone can report fraud and abuse to the Global Fund’s Office of the Inspector General. The anonymous reporting channels are designed to be safe, confidential and easy!