As you know, I'm working here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this week, facilitating the efforts of the Developing Countries NGO Delegation, one of three civil society delegations that informs the work of the Global Fund Board of Directors.
We've had a very productive series of pre-meetings thus far, with the actual Board meeting beginning tomorrow.
Tonight, was quite a night, and definitely worth a blog post. We ended the work portion of the day with a special briefing by UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidebé. I facilitated the meeting with the goal of ensuring that the powerful director could fully understand and then represent the needs of developing and developed countries, as well people affected by the three diseases—AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
Following the briefing, His Excellency Girma Wolde Giorgis, President of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, hosted a special welcoming dinner at the National Palace.
Our Delegation had originally protested the Global Fund hosting any kind of posh event, especially given the tragic famine here in the country. Following assurances at the highest levels (and the desire to honor the well-known hospitality of Ethiopians), we accepted the invitation. It was a wonderful evening, with amazing food, truly beautiful national dance and music, and great conversations with old and new friends.

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