BENEFICIARY COUNTRY: Myanmar

DESCRIPTION: Request for Proposals for STAKEHOLDER SATISFACTION SURVEY

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: 09 February 2010

POSTING DATE: 20 January 2010
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The Fund Manager of the Three Diseases Fund, on behalf of a Donor Consortium formed by Australia, Denmark, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, invites sealed proposals from qualified service providers to conduct a Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey, as described in the documents attached to this solicitation.

The Three Diseases Fund (3DF) aims to reduce the burden of communicable disease mortality and morbidity for Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria and HIV and AIDS in Burma/Myanmar.

Supported by Australia, the European Commission (EC), the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK), the 3DF initially pledged US$100 million over 5 years with 60 per cent for HIV and AIDS, 20 per cent for TB and 20 per cent for malaria, targeting vulnerable and under-served population groups, especially those living in remote and inaccessible areas and those most at risk of the three diseases. In 2009, donor commitments were increased to US$129 million and Denmark joined the Donor Consortium.

Over the last three years, the 3DF has disbursed some US$73 million (in average US$23 million per year) in two rounds of grants covering 42 projects implemented by 15 international NGOs, 5 UN, 3 local non-governmental and 8 community-based organizations. Fifteen (15) new projects are being supported from 1 January 2010 in a third round of grants. All three rounds will end by 31 December 2011.

Four UN agencies‚ WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNODC‚ supported the National Disease Control Programmes.

WHO managed a decentralised disbursement of US$575,824/year to reimburse small amounts to medical officers at township level for training, drug transportation costs, lab specimens, home visits and supervision of beneficiaries.

Formally established on 12 October 2006, the 3DF superseded the Fund for HIV/AIDS in Myanmar (FHAM) and filled urgent needs following the withdrawal of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFTAM) in 2005.

On Wednesday 14 October, the Three Diseases Fund (3DF) held its 2009‚ Annual Review Meeting in Yangon, allowing more than 160 participants from international and local NGO and UN partner agencies, along with senior representatives from the Ministry of Health and donor countries, to share the outcomes of the programme activities last year.

With a commitment of US$114 million dollar over five years, the fund is the biggest single pooled fund in the health sector in Myanmar. The main achievement of the fund is that it proved it worked effectively and contributed to improving and saving the lives of thousands‚ Bengt Ekman, Chair of the Fund Board and representative of Sweden in the Donor Consortium, said.

The Three Diseases Fund Board welcomes the detailed analysis and recommendations of the independent Mid Term Evaluation Team. The evaluation was a comprehensive exercise conducted over a period of four weeks, involving two field visits, interviews with over seventy stakeholders and extensive document review. The overarching conclusion that the Three Diseases Fund has performed well and has made a significant contribution to the containment of the three diseases epidemics is testament to the commitment and hard work of the Fund Management Office, Implementing Partners and Ministry of Health.

You are a beneficiary of a health service provided with financial support from the Three Diseases Fund or working with beneficiaries at grassroots level. As part of our commitment to improve our support to a diversity of international NGOs, UN agencies, independent local and community-based organizations and the services they provide to beneficiaries, your opinion is important to us.

The information collated from this feedback mechanism will be confidential and acted upon within the fund management as part of our continuous improvement efforts.

In its meeting on 15 October 2009, the Fund Board awarded grants to 15 projects presented in Round III call for proposals. The total value of grants is US$15.6 million. The share of grants is 32 per cent for TB, 31 per cent for malaria and 38 per cent for HIV and AIDS.

Agreements for these 15 projects - to be effective on 1 January 2010 - are currently under negotiation with the following implementing partners:

Donors to the Three Diseases Fund welcome the Global Fund's return
The Fund committed to continue working in Myanmar

Yangon, 16 November (Three Diseases Fund)-On Thursday 12 November in Addis Ababa, the Board of Directors of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has made an overall approval of new grants with a two-year commitment of US$2.4 billion, of which approximately US$111 million will be available for Myanmar for two years and up to US$288 million over five years.

The donors to the Three Diseases Fund—Australia, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom—welcome the Global Fund’s decision and are pleased to see the result of the collaboration by the Myanmar Country Coordination Mechanism, a joint effort from representatives of UN and non-governmental agencies, donors, people living positively with HIV and the national diseases control programmes chaired by the Minister of Health.

Fund Board Aide Memoire
Three Diseases Fund Second Annual Review Meeting
14 October 2009

The Three Diseases Fund Second Annual Review was held on 14th October 2009 at the Sedona Hotel Yangon. Some 160 participants attended representing The Fund Board, Fund Manager, Ministry of Health, donors, UN agencies, INGOs and local NGOs and CBOs. The day comprised plenary sessions and open discussion. The findings of the independent Mid Term Evaluation were presented and discussed in plenary. The Day closed with a Market Place exhibition by 31 implementing partners.

This Fund Board Aide Memoire documents major themes which emerged from the day.

The Fund Board will develop an action plan in response to the recommendations of the Mid Term Evaluation and other issues raised in the Annual Review.

Policy
Collaboration: The opening remarks and a number of presentations and interventions noted how the collaboration, trust and partnership have developed last year among all actors involved in the 3DF. Partnership building was already a key theme of the 2008 ARM, but further progress was clear.

The Ministry of Health noted that the 3DF had become an "innovative partnership with all the key partners". The outcome of better partnership was reflected through practical examples from the presentations such as: TB referrals, consistent quality standards between different partners, joint work on M&E. The importance of the Technical Strategic Groups (TSG) was reaffirmed.

The National Malaria Control Programme summarized the importance of partnership in tackling the epidemic: Together we can make it.

Objective

The Fund was set up on 12 October 2006. Exactly three years down the line, it has contributed to improve and save the lives of thousands and paved the way for more investment in health sector in the country. The time has come for the 3DF to step back and present the results of its second full year of implementation and the main findings and observations emanating from the Mid-term Evaluation. In a 1-day meeting and exhibition (Market Place), the 2009 Annual Review Meeting has been an opportunity for 30+ implementing partners along with the Fund Board and Fund Manager to share and discuss the Fund's key achievements and lessons learned.

The agenda and presentations are available below. Before downloading or using these presentations, please read our disclaimer.

1. Q: Can Proposals be sent by email or do hard copies have to be sent?
A: Hard copies to be received before the closing time and date. Soft copies on a CD would be appreciated.

2. Q: Will late submissions be accepted if they are late only by a few minutes or hours?
A: No. It is not possible to accept a late submission no matter how late.

3. Q: Can a Proposal be submitted without all mandatory documents of the Request for Proposal (RfP)?