Report / Case study

Global Funds: Allocation Strategies and Aid Effectiveness. Final Report

Abstract

Global funds are an increasingly significant part of the global aid architecture, with funding until recently concentrated in health and education. These funds have important advantages – including a focus on results and a specificity that resonates with publics and politicians. Yet, they have been criticised at the country and global levels. Critics have raised questions as to whether their funding could be made more consistent with aid effectiveness principles, whether their funds could be more effectively used through other funding channels, and the extent to which the political support they receive translates into higher overall aid levels. This report starts with a brief overview of the Paris/Accra approach to aid effectiveness and a definition of global funds and partnerships and their role in the overall aid architecture. It goes on to summarise strategies for allocation of funds across countries, including challenge funds and results-based aid, as well as specific model examples used by selected global funds and partnerships. The report then draws key recommendations for further reforms articulated around the need to increase the impact of global fund allocations and to better integrate global funds at country level as well as specific recommendations for climate funds. The report concludes by identifying key entry points and potential challenges that should be kept in mind for the implementation of the specific recommendations