The Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the Global Fund in India has called for large scale proposals on prevention, care and support (including Anti-Retroviral Treatment) to HIV/AIDS infection and combat Malaria and TB. Last date of submission of proposals to CCM, which is headed by Secretary, Health, Government of India, is March 15, 2004.

The CCM is central to the Global Fund's commitment to local ownership and participatory decision-making. This country-level partnership develops and submits grant proposals to the Global Fund based on priority needs at the national level. After grant approval, it oversees progress during implementation.

Country Coordinating Mechanism includes representatives from both the public and private sectors, including governments, multilateral or bilateral agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, private businesses and people living with the diseases.

The latest call from Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) is for the grant of a forth round funding. The Global Fund forecast availability of committed funds of US $604 million. The fund is looking for proposals of high quality, particularly from the partnerships that include the private sector and local Non Governmental Organisations. The proposals should support the scale up of effective existing programmes and innovative projects that meet the Global Fund's criteria and that have a clear demonstration of how the resources sought from the Global Fund will achieve additional results in partnership with existing programmes.

For each grant, the Country Coordinating Mechanism nominates one or a few public or private organizations to serve as Principal Recipient. The Principal Recipient is legally responsible for local implementation of the grant, including oversight of sub-recipients of grant funds and communications with the Country Coordinating Mechanism on grant progress. The Principal Recipient also works with the Secretariat to develop a two-year grant agreement that identifies program results to be achieved over time. Over the course of the grant agreement, the Principal Recipient requests additional disbursements based on demonstrated progress towards these intended results. This performance-based system of grant-making is key to the Global Fund's commitment to results.

As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the Global Fund represents an innovative approach to international health financing. Its purpose is to attract, manage and disburse resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria.

India had recently signed two new grant agreements with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, paving the way for the disbursal of US$ 33 million over the next two years, and totaling US$ 129 million over five years. These grants are expected to help scale up the national HIV/AIDS prevention and control program and expand the national TB control program.