Contributing to the global fight against malaria

A child sitting in a hammock covered by a mosquito net.
Child under a mosquito net, safe from mosquito bites – the cause of malaria. © Swiss Malaria Group / Elder Figuera

Despite continued progress in malaria control, malaria is still a major burden of disease in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. When combating the health and economic effects of malaria in its partner countries, SDC stresses not only prevention but also access to medicines.

SDC focus

Switzerland is internationally recognised for its excellence in malaria research and its implementation of pioneering initiatives in malaria prevention and control. SDC therefore has the advantage of collaborating with a number of partners from the public and private sectors who are well known for their knowledge and expertise in the field of malaria.

SDC contributes to the fight against malaria through bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation. In partner countries that are highly malaria endemic, SDC backs specific projects that tackle malaria by increasing mosquito-net coverage, strengthening health systems and supporting community-based initiatives. At international level, SDC contributes to the fight against malaria with financial contributions to global initiatives such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and to internationally recognised academic institutions as well as public private partnerships that are driving innovative research and the development of new prevention means, drugs and diagnostic tools.

Raise awareness and sensitise

SDC also heads the Swiss Malaria Group that was founded in 2007 and encompasses 11 members from the private and public sectors and civil society. The aim of this group is to raise awareness of malaria and its impacts among decision makers and the public and to increase Swiss support for organisations that are actively involved in the fight against malaria. Synergies between the members are used to contribute to the decline of malaria cases in the most affected countries through innovative control measures, knowledge and financial flows.

Background

Many countries have made impressive progress in controlling malaria, resulting in reduced child mortality and a decreased number of malaria cases. These results have been made possible through improved coordination of the different global actors, massive investments in malaria control and the availability of efficient tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. However, growing resistance to anti-malarial drugs and insecticides pose a huge challenge to sustaining these achievements.

Current projects

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Swiss Malaria Group

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2025

Founded in 2007 as an informal network, the Swiss Malaria Group (SMG) has undergone organisational development leading to a formalized multi-stakeholder group with a strategic focus on raising awareness about malaria and the comparative advantage of Switzerland to defeat the disease. Organised as an association, with an Executive Secretariat hosted by Medicus Mundi Switzerland, the 15 organisations help accelerating malaria elimination, through innovative control measures, knowledge and financial flows.


BACKUP Health: Technical support for Global Fund country partners

01.12.2023 - 31.08.2027

The Global Fund aims at ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria as epidemics. It works with country-based partners. The coordination mechanism through which these partners operate often requires technical assistance. SDC’s support to BACKUP Health is meant to improve the effectiveness of the coordinating mechanisms in order to ensure that the activities supported by the Global Fund  benefit the poor and vulnerable populations. Experiences gathered by the BACKUP Health in countries will be used to influence strategic decisions at Board level.


Phase 1 Solidarit'Eau Suisse 2022-2027

16.07.2022 - 15.09.2027

Access to safe water and sanitation affordable for all by 2030 according to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 is substantially off track. The so-called SDG 6 Acceleration Framework adopted in 2020 by the UN, calls for fast results through increased efforts at all levels and by all relevant actors. Solidarit’Eau Suisse helps in mobilizing support from Swiss municipalities and other water-related public actors to implement Swiss projects in the water sector of the Global South.


MMV - Medicines for Malaria Venture

01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024

Treating malaria requires developing different medicines suitable for people in lower-income countries. The Geneva-based Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) drives the discovery, development and implementation of new antimalarial medicines. Working with pharmaceutical, academic and affected country partners, including Swiss companies and research, MMV contributes to equitable access to affordable and quality medicines for vulnerable groups at risk of malaria, in particular children and pregnant women. 


Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC)

01.08.2020 - 31.07.2024

Vector-borne neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and malaria are major causes of mortality, morbidity and lack of economic progress for the poorest. Targeting the vector (mosquito) is a main eradication approach. Due to climate change and natural mutation, insecticide resistance is affecting most malaria endemic countries. The Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) is the world-leader Product Development Partnership developing innovative and safe insecticides. SDC strategic support to IVCC complements Switzerland’s global action against malaria. 


Swiss Malaria Group (SMG)

01.01.2020 - 31.12.2023

The Swiss Malaria Group (SMG) gathers all Swiss-based institutions active nationally and internationally in the fight against malaria. The 16 members’ organizations from the public, private, academic and non-for-profit sectors coordinate their efforts in order to engaging Swiss technical expertise, opinion makers and the general public to provide Swiss leadership against malaria at global and national levels, strengthen research and innovation by Swiss actors and fight malaria on the ground in all affected settings.


BACKUP Health Technical support for Global Fund country partners

01.12.2019 - 30.11.2023

Switzerland supports The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria with 64 million CHF for three years (2020-2022). As the Fund is a global financing mechanism without country presence that provides grants to recipient countries. The BACKUP Health initiative strives to strengthen governments and other national stakeholders in such way that they embed Global Fund grant proposals in broader health sector priorities.


Global Malaria Technical & Training Support Package (GlobMal)

01.07.2019 - 31.12.2023

The worldwide reduction in malaria-related death in the last two decades is a major global public health success. Despite the 6 million lives saved from malaria, still more than 400’000 people die every year. The project aims to shape effective global and national malaria control and elimination strategies, by providing the necessary scientific evidence and strengthening capacities of malaria-affected countries. Swiss research and private sector contribute to the design and implementation of these global and national malaria strategies.


Towards Elimination of Malaria in Tanzania

NETCELL project, 2017

01.12.2018 - 30.04.2024

Tanzania deploys innovative approaches for malaria control and elimination since 2000. To sustain and expand gains that have been achieved, the project will capacitate Tanzanian institutions to engage in subnational, intersectoral and cross borders elimination strategies, thus making available best practices to normative bodies such as World Health Organization (WHO). Tanzania’s and Switzerland’s recognized strong expertise, network and influence in malaria elimination will be increased through this programme.


BACKUP Health Technical support for Global Fund country partners

01.07.2017 - 31.03.2020

Based in Geneva, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria does not have representations in the countries receiving its grants. To foster effective the implementation of its support, the Global Fund relies on coordination mechanisms that gather the main country-based partners, including people affected by the diseases. SDC co-financing of the BACKUP Health initiative aims at strengthening this multi-stakeholder management of Global Fund grants, reinforce accountability and increase the impact of the Global Fund.

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