NAC moves to save HIV, other funds

National Aids Commission (NAC) has convened an emergency meeting to address concerns surrounding Malawi’s ongoing Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 application to resolve issues threatening sustainability of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) treatment.

The meeting was initially scheduled for last Friday, but was rescheduled to today and will bring together civil society representatives, constituency leaders, Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) leadership, secretariat representatives and other stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and resolve outstanding concerns.

NAC executive director Beatrice Matanje indicated in a letter to stakeholders that the urgency follows concerns raised by civil society organisations regarding the ongoing application process, with potential implications for continuity of critical healthcare services.

Reads her letter: “Unless these concerns are resolved promptly, they could jeopardise the continuity of essential HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services, including antiretroviral therapy for thousands of people living with HIV.

“This matter is particularly urgent because Malawi is applying through the third and final funding window for the 2027– 2030 grant period, which closes on 4th October 2026.”

The meeting comes against a background of Malawi Council of Churches expressing concern over an impasse that risks making Malawi fail to unlock $437.9 million (about K766 billion) from the Global Fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.

The funding at stake is $339.6 million for HIV and Aids management, $82.2 million for malaria and $16.1 million for TB as well as Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH). It accounts for over 60 percent of Malawi’s disease programme financing.

International Coalition on Health Financing Advocacy chairperson Maziko Matemba said in an interview that since 2002, Malawi has accessed $2.8 billion (around K5 trillion) from the Global Fund, where 80 to 90 percent has been dedicated to procurement of drugs for the three infectious diseases of HIV, TB and malaria.

“Currently the cost to the health system for standard first-line adult regimens averages between $60 (around K105 000) to $150 [roughly K263 000] per person annually,” he said.

CCM, acting as the Malawi Global Fund Coordinating Committee, voted seven to five for ActionAid to replace World Vision International as the principal recipient.

The Principal Recipient Selection Committee had earlier picked World Vision. The CCM also resolved not to use the Grant Ready Funding Request pathway that would have retained existing PRs.

Malawi’s health sector remains heavily donor-dependent, with domestic health spending at about 10 percent of the national budget, below the Abuja Declaration target of 15 percent and per capita spending far below World Health Organisation recommended levels.

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