In 2021, malaria claimed nearly 619 000 lives worldwide and over 245 million cases were reported. The global malaria community has made progress in reducing the disease burden over the last two decades. However, recent progress has stalled. Among the various factors, limited funding for malaria research and development (R&D) as well as access and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have led to slower progress; in addition, the limited inclusion of endemic country actors in developing country-relevant R&D and access strategies has also slowed progress.  

In this side event, experts will shed light on how equitable partnerships between key stakeholders in malaria endemic countries and other actors within the global malaria community can serve as building blocks for developing sustainable R&D and access strategies for malaria elimination. By shining a spotlight on recent examples of African leadership in R&D and access, this session will discuss how equitable partnerships are addressing challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, severe malaria, and insecurity in the supply of medicines.  The panel will also delve into challenges such partnerships have encountered and what can be done to improve upon them. 

Africa-based organisations engaged in these areas of work include the Zambian Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Africa CDC, Emzor Pharmaceuticals (Nigeria), Universal Corporation Limited (Kenya), ALARM Consortium (regional), among others.

This side event can be placed within track 8 (combatting infectious diseases, NTDs and AMR in Africa) of the CPHIA and within Africa CDC’s vision of expanded manufacturing of therapeutics; increased domestic resources for health security, and respectful and action-oriented partnerships.