Search:
 

GAVI Alliance Board Teleconference

24 July 2008

Expand All | Contract All

1. Governance

Sigrun Møgedal, Chair of the Governance Transition Committee, presented revised draft GAVI Alliance bylaws and Executive Committee Charter for the new board structure. Discussion followed:

  • Board members reaffirmed their commitment to GAVI’s Gender Policy, particularly as it pertains to the new governance structure. They were satisfied with the Governance Implementation Committee’s revisions, recognising that having a perfect gender balance on every committee would be difficult whilst ensuring applicable skills. However, language highlighting a gender perspective in the bylaws and committee charters should be added.
  • The new Executive Committee should address risk management aspects of functions under its purview and make recommendations to the new Board as it considers appropriate. The World Bank suggested specific language to be inserted in the Executive Comittee which was acceptable to all Board members.
  • Board members signalled a strong commitment to maintaining the nature of the alliance in the new governance structure. It is hoped that the new design will encourage board members to make it known when they believe the alliance is not operating as it should.
  • It is intended that the new board will review the bylaws and other governing documents after two or three years in order to make adjustments where appropriate.
  • The CEO shall be selected by the new board based on merit, in a non-political, open and competitive manner. As the committee charters are constructed, a committee should be identified to handle some aspects of the appointment process with final decision made by the Board.
  • Board members expressed their deep appreciation to Sigrun Møgedal and the members of the Transition Committee and Governance Implementations Committee for their work to produce the bylaws.

DECISIONS

The GAVI Alliance Board:

  1. Approved the GAVI Alliance By-laws subject to the discussed revisions regarding the gender policy and the role of the Executive Committee in risk management.

  2. Requested the GAVI Foundation to adopt the GAVI Alliance By-laws.

DocumentsPresentations
  • none
2. Country programmes – IRC recommendations

Mercy Ahun, Head of Country Support of the GAVI Secretariat presented the outcomes and recommendations of the IRC team for new proposals and monitoring teams. Discussion followed:

  • GAVI should continue to ensure its support is consistent with country health sector planning cycles.
  • The Secretariat’s work in revising the format of programme proposals is valuable and board members look forward to reviewing the revision.
  • The $5.00 price used to calculate budgets for the pneumococcal vaccine may be low; the Secretariat may need to present revised budgets once the true price has been negotiated by UNICEF Supply Division.
  • Until the new Programme and Policy Committee is operating, the Working Group should continue to fulfil the role it currently performs.
  • As they review IRC recommendations, board members would like regular feedback on monitoring, particularly as it relates to co-financing.

DECISIONS

The GAVI Alliance Board:

  1. Endorsed New Vaccine Support multiyear budgets: US$ 224,943,000;

    1. Includes budgets for vaccine introduction grants: US$ 2,865,500;

  2. Endorsed Immunisation Services Support multiyear budgets: US$ 15,543,500;

  3. Endorsed a net increase to New Vaccines Support: US$ 3,669,092;

  4. Endorsed vaccine introduction grants to three countries: US$ 300,000;

  5. Endorsed a net increase to Immunisation services support: US$ 4,648,500.

DocumentsPresentations
  • none
3. Cash management plan

Alice Albright, Executive Vice President and CFIO of the GAVI Secretariat, presented the cash management plan. There was no discussion.

DECISIONS

The GAVI Alliance Board:

  1. Endorsed the cash management and requested the GAVI Fund Board to implement it.

DocumentsPresentations
  • none