Global Malaria Technical & Training Support Package (GlobMal)

Project completed

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.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Health
Malaria
01.07.2019 - 31.12.2023
CHF  2’336’994
Background

Thanks to the scale-up of effective malaria vector control tools such as insecticide-treated  mosquito nets, diagnostics and medicines, malaria mortality has decreased worldwide by 60%, with 6.2 million lives saved since 2000. But despite this tremendous progress, still an estimated 3.4 billion people in 97 countries are at risk and every year, 438,000 people die of its consequences. WHO global strategy and Roll Back Malaria action plan, aligned with the 2016-2030 timeline of the Sustainable Development Goals, provide overall strategic direction towards the ambitious 2030 malaria goals to reduce malaria mortality by 40% by 2020 (compared with 2015) and to increase the number of malaria-free countries by additional 10 and 35 countries by 2020 and 2030, respectively.

To support the implementation of these strategies, the malaria control community relies on networks that respond to real life conditions and translate evidence stemming into practical guidelines and policies. The RBM working groups, managed and led by RBM partners such as Swiss TPH, provide a unique multi-stakeholder dialogue platform and is complementary to the technical and small WHO expert groups that have no partnerships with the private sector.

The Global Malaria Technical & Training Support Package (GlobMal), supported by SDC since 2013, addresses Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) 3.3 of ending the epidemic of malaria and SDG 17 of strengthening global partnerships and bringing stakeholders together to achieve the 2030 targets. It provides support to the global and national malaria control and elimination effort, generates scientific evidence to inform global malaria strategy and helps translate them into country specific action, through global working groups on vector control, case management (malaria treatment) and cross-sectoral action against malaria, and through the training of malaria affected countries’ scientists and national malaria control managers.

GlobMal also brings in Swiss expertise and know-how. The strong role of Switzerland is appreciated, as it is considered a “neutral” agent of knowledge with no political agenda. This strength becomes more important in an emerging multipolar world.

Objectives To contribute to global malaria control and elimination by shaping global and national malaria control and elimination policies, and ultimately to reduce the malaria burden and to increase the number of malaria-free zones.
Target groups

Global malaria community through latest evidence for policy shaping and for advancement of technical expertise

Malaria control managers from malaria affected countries for capacity building

Ultimately, populations worldwide of all malaria affected countries

Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Technical evidence on vector control, case management and multi-sectoral action is generated and communicated in a concerted way via multi-stakeholder platforms (e.g. working groups) promoting country, regional and global exchanges and coordination.

Outcome 2: Human technical capacities for malaria control and elimination are strengthened in affected countries through a strategically aligned global approach to needs- and competence-based training.

Results

Expected results:  

Output 1: The Vector Control Working Group is functional and provides effective support to the global and national malaria vector control efforts in all areas related to coordination and strategies.

Output 2: The Case Management Working Group is functional and provides effective support to the global and national malaria case management efforts in all areas related to coordination and strategies.

Output 3: Malaria courses for national malaria control managers in various locations are successfully carried out - Tanzania (2020), Laos (2021/2023), Tanzania (or Togo) (2022),.

Output 4: Annual malaria leadership courses in various locations are successfully carried out; Science of Eradication course in Basel (2020), Boston (2021), Barcelona (2022), Basel (2023).

Output 5: Support the network of public health schools in Africa and Asia to strengthen capacity for effective malaria programmes.


Results from previous phases:  

GlobMal Phase 1 and 2 have contributed to the emerging global malaria agenda and policies. Especially, the Vector Control Working Group, with over 1,600 members is a light tower thanks to the coordination ensured by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the promotion of participation of affected country experts.

It is complementary to other malaria related initiatives supported by SDC in R&D and access to antimalarial products, advocacy and global financing.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Swiss Academic and Research Institution
  • Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute


Coordination with other projects and actors

Harvard University

Barcelona Institute for Global Health and University of Barcelona (ISGlobal)

Ifakara Health Institute (IHI)

Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI)

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    2’336’994 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’987’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   4’050’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   6’387’000
Project phases Phase 4 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase)

Phase 3 01.07.2019 - 31.12.2023   (Completed)

Phase 2 01.07.2016 - 30.06.2019   (Completed) Phase 1 01.07.2013 - 30.06.2016   (Completed)