GC8 Applications

Applications to the Global Fund can be developed once applicants receive an Allocation Letter.

Allocation Letters

Allocation Letters are the official communication from the Global Fund to the applicant at the beginning of the grant cycle that describe the amounts that have been allocated to a country, along with the requirements that the country should meet to access their allocation.

Allocation Letters are customized for each country and typically include:

Applicants are asked to review the information in their allocation letter along with these planning considerations when preparing for country dialogue and funding request development.

Allocation Letters for Grant Cycle 8 will be shared starting in March 2026. Allocation amounts will subsequently be shared on the Allocations page as well as on the Data Explorer and Data Service.

Key Messages for GC8 Funding Request Development

The Global Fund is adapting its requirements and expectations for GC8 to better support countries and communities. Applicants will also need to adapt their approach to country dialogue and determining funding request priorities to ensure the financing requested will have the largest impact against the three diseases and strengthening resilient and sustainable systems for health.

Following are some key focus areas in the applicant guidance, resources, and materials for GC8 that applicants should consider when developing their funding requests for GC8:

  • Prioritization: ensuring rigorous optimization of interventions, including considerations of value for money in investments will be critical to maximize impact in contexts where a smaller allocation from the Global Fund is expected at the same time as other reductions in health financing. More information can be found in the Information Notes on HIV [ download in English | Español | Français ], TB [ download in English | Español | Français ], Malaria [ download in English | Español | Français ] and RSSH [ download in English | Español | Français ] as well as in the Value for Money Technical Brief [ download in English ].
  • Integration: integration of services and systems across diseases and into primary health care will be essential in GC8, not just as an aspect of implementation efficiency and value for money, but as an opportunity to deliver greater impact with the funds available. The Integration Technical Brief [ download in English | Español | Français ] explains more.
  • Focusing on most at risk populations: understanding and removing barriers to health services that prevent most at risk populations from accessing those services will be even more critical in GC8. The Reducing human rights and gender-related barriers to HIV, TB, and malaria services technical brief [ download in English ] includes more information.
  • Increasing self-reliance over time: investments from the Global Fund in GC8 should support countries to follow pathways to effective transition from Global Fund financing, with co-financing as a key tool along the way. The Sustainability, Transition and Co-financing Global Fund Guidance will explain more.
  • Expediting access to innovations: ensuring timely access to innovations can help drive down the disease burden more effectively, to make health investments go further. More information can be found in the Procurement and Supply Chain Global Fund Guidance [ download in English ].

Applicants are encouraged to read the Core Guidance, which contains more information about these adaptations and other necessary information for country dialogue, funding request development, grant-making and grant-implementation in Grant Cycle 8.

Funding Request Application Packages

The Global Fund has different funding request expectations depending on country context and the scope of the Global Fund’s investment in a country. These “funding request application packages” have different requirements and review processes.

There are two streamlined funding request packages for GC8:

  • The Full Review Application is designed for the context and needs of Core and High Impact Portfolios. The Full Review Form for GC8 features tables that allow applicants to reference National Strategic Plans and other national documents, rather than repeating the information in the form. This application will undergo a comprehensive review by the Technical Review Panel (TRP) 
  • The Transition / Focused Application is designed to help Focused Portfolio countries, including those receiving a final allocation, to address a limited number of relevant questions. The application may undergo a targeted review by the TRP.

Each of these funding request application packages consists of a Funding Request Form and accompanying annexes which are developed and endorsed by applicants, most commonly Country Coordinating Mechanisms, and prepared using one of two submission pathways: the Classic Funding Request or the Grant-Ready Funding Request. 

Applicants will make planning considerations when organizing how they will develop their funding requests. To assist applicants in optimizing the available funding, the Global Fund publishes core applicant guidance.

The Funding Request documents page includes more information on which documents are required for the different application packages and where these documents can be accessed.