Aidspan has released a new guide designed to provide a broad introduction to the Global Fund for people who have little or no prior experience of the Fund. A Beginner's Guide to the Global Fund will be of interest to a wide range of people, including (but not limited to):

• people and organizations who are newly involved in Global Fund issues, or who wish to be (e.g., CCM members; employees of organisations serving as principal recipient or sub-recipient; Global Fund Board delegation members; Global Fund Secretariat staffers; and employees of partner agencies);
• journalists writing about the Fund;
• civil society organisations who want to take on a Fund watchdog role; and
• researchers studying the Fund.

A Beginner's Guide to the Global Fund comes in three versions: the full guide (about 60 pages), an eight-page summary and a two-page summary. All three versions are available in English at www.aidspan.org/guides. French-, Spanish- and Russian-language editions of all three versions will be available by early September 2009 at the same site. The full version of the guide contains numerous links to the websites of the Global Fund and Aidspan, for people who need in-depth information. The following are the main sections of A Beginner's Guide to the Global Fund: Chapter 1: Introduction to the Guide Chapter 2: Introduction to the Global Fund What is the Global Fund? History of the Global Fund Key Accomplishments Core Principles Chapter 3: Structure of the Global Fund - Global Level Global Fund Board Global Fund Secretariat Technical Review Panel Technical Evaluation Reference Group Office of the Inspector General Chapter 4: Structure of the Global Fund - In-Country Country Coordinating Mechanisms Principal Recipients and Sub-Recipients Local Fund Agents Chapter 5: Partnerships Chapter 6: Funds Raised by the Global Fund Chapter 7: Funds Committed and Spent by the Global Fund Chapter 8: The Global Fund's Application Process Who Can Apply? Rounds-Based Channel Rolling Continuation Channel National Strategy Applications Chapter 9: Country Coordinating Mechanisms Responsibilities of CCMs How CCMs Function Global Fund Guidance on CCMs Chapter 10: Proposal Development Processes In-Country Chapter 11: The Grant Implementation Process PR Assessment Grant Agreement Ongoing Reporting, Reviews and Disbursements Phase 2 Renewal Procurement and Supply Management Monitoring and Evaluation Chapter 12: Reporting on Progress Chapter 13: Evaluations of the Global Fund