01/11/06 - Marcos Espinal, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership, speaking in Paris has announced the launch of a new fund called the "Challenge Fund for Civil Society" (CFCS). It will give small grants of $5,000 to $20,000 to TB patient projects and initiatives that will give patients a voice. A total of $200,000 will start the fund and it is hoped that if proven successful the fund will attract assistance from new donors.
Espinal said; "If we do not engage affected communities we will not fulfill the Stop TB Strategy." Applications for the fund have been made simple to encourage applications from a wide variety of people consisting of only 2-3 pages outlining an idea. It is hoped the first round of funding will start in early 2007.
