Table 1: Active Global Fund grants to Bangladesh ($ million) Principal recipient Comp. Grant name Signed amount BRAC BGD-T-CRAC 45.6 m TB Ministry of Finance BGD-T-NTP 31.7 m BRAC BDG-M-BRAC 9.7 m Malaria Ministry of Finance BGD-M-NMCP 15.5 m International Centre for Diarrhoea Disease Research BGD-H-ICDDRB 5.8 m Ministry of Finance HIV BGD-H-NASP 0.7 m Save the Children Federation BGD-H-SC 7.8 m Total 116.9 m Notes: 1. All grants had an end date of 31 December 2017 or just prior. 2. The MOF grants are implemented via the respective national disease programs in the MOHFW. The OIG stated that a decline government funding has created a heavy dependence on donors for the delivery of programs. There are challenges concerning the coordination government’s of donor activities, resulting in gaps and potential duplication of activities, it added. Finally, although the availability of routine and survey data for decision making has improved, the OIG said, inaccurate recording and reporting compromise its reliability. Table 2 lists the three areas assessed in the audit, and the ratings and summary OIG’s comments for each area. Table 2: Bangladesh audit findings at-a-glance AREA 1: Effectiveness of the implementation arrangements to Rating: Partially effective ensure efficient and sustainable achievement of grant objectives The implementation arrangements have supported the consistent achievement OIG comments: of the agreed programmatic performance targets. However, challenges in TB case detection, routine monitoring of patients and potential inefficiencies need to be addressed. AREA 2: Effectiveness and efficiency of the procurement and supply Rating: Partially effective chain to ensure availability of quality assured medicines and health commodities to patients OIG comments: The Secretariat instituted several measures to ensure Global Fund procured medicines are effectively stored and distributed. Those measures mitigated stock-outs at health facilities but underlying systemic weaknesses continue to impact supply chain arrangements under the TB grants. AREA 3: Design of the internal financial controls on incentive Rating: Partially effective payments and apportionment of costs to Global Fund grants OIG comments: Internal financial controls are adequately designed, but a number of issues identified at the National TB Program affect the effective management of grant funds.
Table 1: Active Global Fund grants to Bangladesh ($ million) Principal recipient Comp. Grant name Signed amount BRAC TB BGD-T-CRAC 45.6 m Ministry of Finance BGD-T-NTP 31.7 m BRAC Malaria BDG-M-BRAC 9.7 m Ministry of Finance BGD-M-NMCP 15.5 m International Centre for Diarrhoea Disease Research HIV BGD-H-ICDDRB 5.8 m Ministry of Finance BGD-H-NASP 0.7 m Save the Children Federation BGD-H-SC 7.8 m Total 116.9 m Notes: 1. All grants had an end date of 31 December 2017 or just prior. 2. The MOF grants are implemented via the respective national disease programs in the MOHFW. The OIG stated that a decline government funding has created a heavy dependence on donors for the delivery of programs. There are challenges concerning the government’s coordination of donor activities, resulting in gaps and potential duplication of activities, it added. Finally, although the availability of routine and survey data for decision making has improved, the OIG said, inaccurate recording and reporting compromise its reliability. Table 2 lists the three areas assessed in the audit, and the OIG’s ratings and summary comments for each area. Table 2: Bangladesh audit findings at-a-glance AREA 1: Effectiveness of the implementation arrangements to ensure efficient and sustainable achievement of grant objectives Rating: Partially effective OIG comments: The implementation arrangements have supported the consistent achievement of the agreed programmatic performance targets. However, challenges in TB case detection, routine monitoring of patients and potential inefficiencies need to be addressed. AREA 2: Effectiveness and efficiency of the procurement and supply chain to ensure availability of quality assured medicines and health commodities to patients Rating: Partially effective OIG comments: The Secretariat instituted several measures to ensure Global Fund procured medicines are effectively stored and distributed. Those measures mitigated stock-outs at health facilities but underlying systemic weaknesses continue to impact supply chain arrangements under the TB grants. AREA 3: Design of the internal financial controls on incentive payments and apportionment of costs to Global Fund grants Rating: Partially effective OIG comments: Internal financial controls are adequately designed, but a number of issues identified at the National TB Program affect the effective management of grant funds.
GFO-Issue-329.docx