COMMITTEES
DevDel achieves its vision through the work of three committees
The role of the Ethics and Governance Committee is to ensure that the Global Fund and its stakeholders adhere to standards of ethical behavior. A key role of the Committee is to oversee the implementation of the Global Fund’s governance procedures and operations. Members of this Committee are nominated by Global Fund constituencies but serve in their personal capacity.
The Strategy Committee’s role entails establishing the Global Fund’s strategic direction and ensuring that the Global Fund’s investments in health are effective and impactful. This Committee exercises decision-making powers, advisory functions, and an oversight role.
The Audit and Finance Committee’s role is to ensure that the Global Fund’s corporate and financial operations are as efficient as possible. The Committee oversees: the financial management of the Global Fund’s resources; its internal and external audit functions; and its investigative functions.
Grant Approvals Committee Civil Society & Communities Representatives
The Grant Approvals Committee (GAC) was formed after the 28th Global Fund Board Meeting as part of the Board approval of the new funding model. The new funding model was designed to promote greater oversight and flexibility, and includes governance mechanisms on renewals, Secretariat funding review, investment proposals, and recommendations on grants for Board approval.
At a Communities Consultation organised by the Communities Delegation in February 2014 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), communities and civil society networks called on the Global Fund to include and ensure communities and civil society representation in the GAC. Global Fund Executive Director at the time, Mark Dybul, adopted this suggestion at a meeting immediately after the consultation. The communities and civil society GAC Representatives are voluntary, unpaid positions.
The GAC works through strong engagement with technical and development partners and civil society to maximize impact of investments and deliver on the Global Fund Strategy.
After a six-month nomination, approval, and onboarding process, the two current civil society and communities representatives commenced their first one-year term in October 2024, renewable up to three years. The two GAC representatives ensure strong civil society and communities representation on behalf of three constituencies: the Developed Country NGO, Developing Country NGO, and Communities Delegations to the Global Fund Board.
* Sonal Mehta is the other GAC civil society representative. Sonal is a previous member and close colleague of the Developing Country NGO Delegation.

Photo of Mary Ann Torres
Mary Ann Torres
Independent Consultant
Mary Ann Torres has been active in the field of AIDS policy for more than 10 years. She is a lawyer from Venezuela who specializes in international health and human rights. In her hometown of Caracas, she taught a course on human rights at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. She holds a Masters in international law and health and a Masters in women's rights and health. She has been particularly involved in capacity-building programmes on leadership, advocacy and monitoring initiatives, as well as programmes and projects around the implementation of international commitments related to HIV/AIDS (namely, the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment and the Millennium Development Goals). She previously served as Executive Director of International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO), and prior to this role, she was its Senior Policy Advisor. She currently serves as one of the Grant Approvals Committee Civil Society & Communities Representatives.














