Joint Review of Year 3 Performance: IGAD Global Fund TB Grant

March 24-25, 2025 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a joint review meeting in Addis Ababa from March 24–25, 2025, to assess the Year 3 performance of the Global Fund-supported regional TB grant. The meeting brought more than 55 participants stakeholders, including the IGAD Secretariat, CCM representatives, and implementing partners, who actively contributed to discussions on IGAD member states’ role in the regional TB response and cross-border collaboration.

The review highlighted significant progress in TB care and prevention across IGAD member states, particularly in refugee settings. Key achievements included:

• TB Case Detection & Treatment: 3,501 TB cases were notified across 60 refugee camps, surpassing the annual target of 3,000. Community health workers (CHWs) played a crucial role, with 48% of cases identified through community referrals.
• Strengthening TB/HIV Integration: 96% of notified TB cases had documented HIV test results, ensuring early linkage to care. Ethiopia’s approach to integrating TB and HIV services in refugee camps was noted as a best practice.
• MDR-TB Management: 34 MDR-TB cases were diagnosed and initiated on second-line treatment, exceeding the target of 30. Efforts to improve drug susceptibility testing (DST) were emphasized, particularly in Ethiopia’s refugee camps.
• Cross-Border Collaboration: The meeting reinforced the importance of seamless TB care for mobile populations, with discussions on sustaining cross-border TB interventions between Ethiopia and its neighboring countries.

CCM Ethiopia Secretariat staff actively engaged in technical discussions, emphasizing the need for sustained funding, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and stronger coordination with national TB programs for alignment and sustainability.

Despite notable progress, challenges such as low DST coverage in some camps, supply chain disruptions for HIV test kits, and the unsuccessful extension request for the C19RM grant were acknowledged. Moving forward, stakeholders committed to sustaining the gains of the grant, which ends on March 31, 2025, ensuring timely liquidation of the remaining budget, and integrating and strengthening TB services for refugees within national health systems.