In March 2016, Georgia CCM established a Policy and Advocacy Advisory Council (PAAC) to assist the CCM with the transition of TB and HIV programs from The Global Fund to domestic resources.

The PAAC is not a decision-making body. Rather, it will provide technical and operational support during the development and implementation of the transition plan.

The key role PAAC is to lead on the development and implementation of a sustainability/transition plan. The core PAAC functions are as follow:

•           Identifying strategic fiscal space to engage and influence (i.e. national planning budget cycle) as well as identifying strategic information gaps required to make a case for more focused investment during the transition and beyond.

•           advocating for an improved legislative and regulatory environment that will better support the provision of the effective prevention and treatment services;

•           developing and promoting mechanisms to ensure increased involvement of the affected communities and civil society organizations at all level of the planning and decision-making; and

•           developing procurement and supply regulations so that essential medicines and supplies for HIV and TB programs will be available at all times.

There are 16 persons on the PAAC having different technical expertise and representing various sectors, including communities, CSOs, local and international NGOs, donor organizations, patients,  government entities.