The C19 RM is a new funding mechanism established by the Global Fund to support countries' response to COVID-19 and mitigate the impact on programs to fight HIV, TB, malaria and systems for health for the period 2020-2021.

Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC) is the sole PR for this additional funding support. This funding is in addition to the USD 7.1 million that the Global Fund has already approved to provide emergency procurement support, bringing the total support for COVID-19 response in Myanmar to USD 17.6 million. The additional funding of USD10.5 million is under Priority 1 of C19RM which covers immediate needs in the country.

C19RM aimed to support direct COVID-19 responses in countries, such as the purchase of diagnostics and personal protective equipment (PPE), and other emergency response supplies, fund risk mitigation activities related to HIV, TB, and malaria programming, address critical gaps in health- and community systems, such as strengthening laboratory networks, supply chains and community engagement.

ARHC has supported the Ministry of Health and Sports and partners in the C19RM proposal development. The final draft of the C19RM proposal was ready and submitted to the Secretariat of the CD-ExWG (Communicable Disease-Executive Working Group) for endorsement. The final endorsed C19 RM proposal was submitted to the Global Fund Secretariat by 31 May 2020.

C19RM will leverage the principle of country ownership and will allow countries to utilize funding for COVID-19 control, containment, and health systems support. Globally, the Global Fund’s C19RM is providing additional funding of USD 500 million.