(26 April 2021)   The Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has awarded the Philippines a base allocation of USD 22,114,790 to help the country lessen the impact of COVID-19. This COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) is new money on top of the current GFATM grants supporting HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Programs and the first GFATM grant for C19RM in 2020.

To access this C19RM financing, the country is developing a proposal through the Philippine Country Coordinating Mechanism (PCCM), in cooperation with the Department of Health (DOH).  The proposal development is on-going following an inclusive planning process among experts, development partners, key affected population and other vulnerable groups.  Making up with the face to face meetings are virtual consultations and generous sharing of technical resources to finally submit a comprehensive and ambitious C19RM funding request/proposal which is solidly aligned with the country’s response against the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are two (2) funding streams available for the C19RM Funding Request.  One is through the fast-track which is a streamlined process to expedite provision of urgently required COVID-19 health products.  Second is the full proposal which will have duration of two years, January 2022 – December 2023. The full proposal must comply with the WHO guidelines, consider appropriate community rights and gender related interventions, evidence based and funding coordination and reflects C19RM investments value for money.

The PCCM will submit the fast-track funding request for the period covered 6-12 months, to the GFATM   on April 30, 2021, and the full proposal will meet the May 31, 2021 submission window.  Per the PCCM Oversight Committee Resolution, the Principal Recipient (PR) who will handle and manage the C19RM funding request will be the Philippine Business for Social Progress, the current PR for the TB grant.