Rapid Funding for HIV/AIDS Services
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The AIDS pandemic is so devastating in some countries that in-
terruptions in the funding of HIV/AIDS services can be seen im-
mediately in the populations they serve. What can we do to pre-
vent these bottlenecks?
And while donors are increasing allocations for HIV/AIDS ser-
vices, they are increasing their expectations of the organiza-
tions, large and small, receiving these funds. Small organiza-
tions typically lack the capacity to meet those requirements.
What innovative or expedited financing approaches can help?
MSH's first Occasional Paper, "Expediting the Transfer of Funds
for HIV/AIDS Services," is a provocative discussion of some of
the challenges to the rapid funding of AIDS programs:
http://www.msh.org/resources/publications/index.html
This paper identifies the major constraints to the rapid trans-
fer of funds and provides options for avoiding or mitigating
these constraints. These options can be adapted and applied to
disburse funding where and when it is needed, while satisfying
accounting and contracting requirements. The discussion high-
lights possible solutions that have been used in the following
areas:
* building the capacity of primary transfer agents and im-
plementing partners;
* finding alternative ways to transfer funds;
* managing risk;
* decentralizing decision-making and fiduciary control;
* streamlining the funds transfer cycle;
* expediting grants management;
* facilitating disbursement of funds;
* accelerating the flow of funding through multiple entities;
* dealing with host-country governments and multiple donors;
* complying with donors' requirements.
The authors welcome feedback on this paper. If you have used in-
novative funding mechanisms or are a recipient of funding and
have ideas about how the process might be streamlined, we would
appreciate hearing from you. Please direct your comments to
Sharon Stash (mailto:bookstore@msh.org).
Thank you in advance.
MSH's Occasional Papers present provocative explorations of
timely topics in the management of health programs. The Occa-
sional Papers are intended to stimulate dialogue among develop-
ment colleagues around the world and further the body of knowl-
edge about a wide range of technical areas. This paper can be
downloaded at no cost from MSH's Web site at:
http://www.msh.org/resources/publications
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Best regards,
Sherry Cotaco
Bookstore and Distribution Manager
MSH Publications
mailto:Bookstore@msh.org