The trainings include programmatic and financial performance focusing on monitoring and evaluation, corporate governance as well as financial management. The training will not only help in the implementation alone but also in maintaining sustainability of their organizations hence create mutual relationship between implementers and their donors.

During the training the Global Fund Coordinating Unit (GFCU) Deputy Coordinator Mr. Mokhothu Makhalanyane informed the Sub Recipients about Round 2 grant closure at the end of June 2009 and the need to prepare grant-closure projects’ reports showing the budget of the whole project, its expenditure according to the planned activities, balance of funds if any and indicate projects’ achievements in percentage.

“If there is any balance of unspent funds should be put in a cheque and return to Principal Recipients for accountability,” he emphasized. All bank accounts opened specifically for Global Fund Round 2 grant projects should also be closed when the grant phase-out, adding that for those that secured another GF grant in Round 8 should open new accounts.

Makhalanyane told the participants that for the first time, Lesotho will have two Principal Recipients whereby the Ministry of Finance/GFCU will only coordinate Government ministries implementers while the Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN) will coordinate the civil society organizations.

However, he said there are few NGOs that are implementing Round 7 grant that will still be coordinated under the ministry of finance through Global Fund Coordinating Unit (GFCU) namely World Vision Lesotho, Lesotho Red Cross Society and Lesotho Save the Children.

He acknowledged all Sub Recipients for their passion and commitment to implement GF grants in order to combat HIV and AIDS and TB in the country. “Lesotho’s performance in GF grants implementation improved from strength to strength and without your cooperation the Principal Recipients could not be able to achieve those excellent results alone.”

On behalf of Sub Recipients from Civil Society, Reverend Joseph Thamae of Hope of the World organization thanked the Principal Recipient for releasing the GF funds to their organizations to implement community-based projects that aimed at fighting HIV and AIDS in the grassroots.

Thamae further expressed his appreciation for the PR coordination and support during the course of projects’ implementation which he said it helped them to improve their performance. “The PR supported us tirelessly throughout the project life even during difficult times when the projects were not performing as expected but countinued to assist us till the end of grant closure,” he explained.

He thanked the PR for the capacity building workshop that is facilitated by Standard Lesotho Bank saying if they had this kind of training (financial management) earlier, some of their mistakes would never have happened.

“Even if we are going to change PR, this is not the end of the road because some of us will still come to your office for advice and other support,” he concluded.

The Pro-bono initiative is the partnership between Global Fund and Standard Bank International whose aim is to build capacity of GF grant implementers to be able to implement their projects effectively.

After the training, the Bank would countinue mentoring the organizations for a period of time. This is the first time for Standard Lesotho Bank to conduct this kind of training for GF implementers.