The Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria has delayed the closing date for applications for its next round of funding, reduced the estimated amount of money that will be available in that round, and potentially delayed the disbursement of the funds until 2013, PlusNews reports. “The delay in Round 11 funding was announced at the Fund’s latest board meeting on 26 September, the second such delay, which has pushed the application deadline back to at least 1 March 2012,” the news service notes.

PlusNews examines potential reasons for the reduction in estimated funding. “The size of the pot has … shrunk — to US$800 million, … according to Christoph Benn, director of the Fund’s external relations and partnerships.” The news service writes, “The newly revised estimates for Round 11 also take into account the emergency funding that as many as 10 countries, many in Africa, will need to continue what the Fund terms ‘lifesaving’ interventions until the Round 11 2013 disbursement, according to Benn” (11/8).