We've been working strategically with the Developing Countries Delegation of the Global Fund Board for a couple of years now. Our first significant engagement occurred when we facilitated a delegation retreat in São Paulo, Brazil in 2007.
We also developed an early version of their website, provided guidance related to critical changes necessary for their infrastructure last fall in Paris, created a new version of their operating manual, and are currently managing their new delegate selection process.
This year, we became the official policy and strategy consultant to the delegation. After a brief series of preparatory conversations in Belgrade last month, we arrived here in Geneva, headquarters to the Global Fund, for a week of briefings and strategy sessions all leading up to the 19th meeting of the board of directors.
So far, the gathering has been a crash course in politics, advocacy, and strategy. The Global Fund manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of grantees all around the world. It is serious business.
I'm excited by our role in helping the Developing Countries Delegation strengthen its voice in setting policy and representing their millions of Global South constituents. We've already played an important tole in helping them to set their priorities, influence policy, propose amendments to decision points, and play an instrumental role in selecting the Board's next chair; and with their hard work, we've dramatically shifted their perceptions of themselves and their power within the massive Global Fund structure.
