Yangon, 13 July (Three Diseases Fund) - On Monday the Three Diseases Fund (3DF), on behalf of its Donor Consortium formed by Australia, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, opened a call for proposals from qualified implementing partners for providing services to contribute to the Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV national response in Myanmar. The value of available funding is total US$14 million aimed to be distributed evenly between Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV activities with grants of minimum US$250,000.

"The Three Diseases Fund has raised additional funds from existing and new donors beyond the initial US$100 million commitment; hence, the Fund Board has decided to launch a new round of call for proposals, Round III‚" Bengt Ekman, Chairperson of the Fund Board said.

"This new round of grants aims at scaling up direct service provision with particular focus on life saving medicines such as ARV and first line anti-TB drugs, as well as community-based Malaria control in hard-to-reach areas‚" he emphasized.

Grants are expected to run from 1 December 2009 to 31 December 2011. The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 August.

In 2008, 6,781 people living with HIV - 6,385 adults and 396 children - received ARV therapy through 3DF support. It is estimated that 240,000 people are living with HIV and AIDS and around 75,000 are in need of ARV, out of which only 11,193 have access to ARV (National AIDS Programme Report 2007).

For TB, the fund will address an alarming challenge, the free supply of anti-TB drugs, which is only secured until the end of 2009 through the Global Drug Facility. The new round of 3DF grants will contribute for US$3 million to the provision of anti-TB drugs (not open for applications).

Malaria remains the biggest killer for 39 million people living in endemic areas in Myanmar. In Round III, the fund aims to double its current yearly contribution with an additional US$4.6 million.

Round I

Over the last two years (2007-2009), the fund has granted total US$41 million to 34 projects from 15 international non-governmental organiza¬tions, 5 UN agencies, medical associations and local non-governmental organizations reaching out to remote communities through mobile and fixed clinics, volunteers and health workers (Round I).

The initial US$100 million pledged by donors in 2006 will continue to support programmes addressing the three diseases until October 2011.

Round II

In January 2009, the 3DF earmarked total US$700,000 for community-based organizations and provided small grants of around US$70,000 to each of eight local organizations eligible in 3DF Round II grants.

Guiding Principles

Relief of suffering is guided by the needs and priorities of the most urgent cases of distress, and the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality under the EU Common Position* on assistance to Myanmar and the Guiding Principles for the Provision of Humanitarian Assistance set out by the UN Resident Coordinator. The fund doesn’t provide any funding to the government; it assists national programmes in TB, Malaria and HIV through grants to UN agencies (WHO, UNAIDS, UNODC and UNFPA).

* EU Common Position 96/635/CFSP (Australia shares the concern to address the humanitarian needs of the population)

For more information

Moe Moe Oo, Communications Assistant, Three Diseases Fund
Tel/Fax: 95-1-534498, 504832

E-mail: info@3dfund.org

N.B. The Three Diseases Fund is managed by UNOPS on behalf of its donors, Australia, Denmark, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom