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Multisectoral collaboration is key in light of the challenges faced in malaria control and elimination including insecticide and drug resistance, mobility of populations, climate change and funding shortfalls. To end malaria for good, we need concerted action of stakeholders across different sectors beyond the health sector.

Co-Chairs

Dr Graham Alabaster                         UN-Habitat, Switzerland
Mr Peter Mbabazi Kwehangana       Ministry of Health/ WHO, Uganda

Working Group Secretariat

Dr Konstantina Boutsika      Swiss TPH, Switzerland

MSWG Work Streams

Work Stream I: Malaria in the urban context

Work Stream II: Agriculture and malaria

Work Stream III: The Path-finder Endeavour

Work Stream IV: The role of private commercial sectors in malaria

Work Stream V: Multi-sectoral messaging

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Mark your calendars for the 7th Annual RBM MSWG Meeting!

📅 Dates: 6–8 March 2025
🌍 Location: Cotonou, Benin

More details coming soon.

 

Global Vector Control Response to invasive Anopheles stephensi: Consensus Statement (Click to see)

 

The RBM Vector Control Working Group (VCWG) and Multi-Sectoral Working Group (MSWG) are pleased to issue a joint consensus statement on the Global Vector Control Response to invasive Anopheles stephensi. In the past decade, the malaria vector An. stephensi has spread to Africa and Sri Lanka and there are concerns about its impact on malaria transmission. Urgent efforts are needed to prevent further spread and reduce the impact of An. stephensi where it now exists. With this Consensus Statement, the RBM VCWG and MSWG seek to complement the work of WHO, UN-Habitat and others by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices to address this invasive species to build a common understanding and identify gaps in our collective response. The RBM Working Groups and their diverse membership of malaria control programmes, representatives of other ministries, the private sector, implementing partners, and research and academic organisations stand ready to contribute to this fight.

The Comprehensive Multisectoral Action Framework – Development & Malaria

In August 2022, the launch of the Comprehensive Multisectoral Action Framework – Development & Malaria took place in Geneva. This Framework makes a clear case for restructuring the way countries and providers of funds think and address malaria – from being a concern of the health sector only, towards a comprehensive coordinated multi-pronged effort that harnesses action, commitment and expertise across all sectors.This Action Framework is aligned with the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the UNDP HIV and Health Strategy 2022-2025 and has been jointly developed by UNDP, UN-Habitat and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.

Healthy Cities, Healthy People

The spread of diseases like malaria, TB and Neglected Tropical Diseases is directly linked to sanitation, waste management urban infrastructure planning, yet mayors and local government leaders are rarely at the centre of national disease action plans.

COVID-19 has highlighted the vulnerability of urban communities to infectious disease, while rapid urbanisation and growth of informal settlements across many countries is driving concerns about rising rates of vector borne diseases including malaria and dengue. Lack of access to basic services has a significant impact on resilience to these diseases as well as future pandemics.

Healthy Cities, Healthy People aims to put city and local government leaders at the heart of national and global health debates, calling for more political support and resources to be directed towards healthy urban centres while also enabling information, experiences and best practices to be shared among mayors and municipal leaders.

On 23 November 2021, Healthy Cities Health People launched A Common Position and Commitment to Action, supported by mayors, local government leaders and global partners from around the world. City and urban leaders and supporting organisations are very welcome to join and support this initiative.

You can find the recording of the event here.

Purpose and Rationale

Essential progress has been made in the past decade to reduce malaria globally. Over 6 million lives were saved as a result of a scale-up of malaria interventions. However, the latest World Malaria Report 2020 alerts that after an unprecedented period of success in global malaria control, progress has stalled.
 
Multisectoral collaboration is key in light of the challenges faced in malaria control and elimination including insecticide and drug resistance, mobility of populations, risk perception, sustainable human settlements, poverty, disasters (natural & man-made), outdoor transmission, climate change and funding shortfalls.

To end malaria for good, we need the concerted action of different stakeholders across different sectors beyond the health sector, as well as intra-sectoral collaboration. The Sustainable Development Goals calling for action to transform societies give further impetus for a Multi-sectoral Working Group (MSWG). The MSWG has been established under the umbrella of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, following approval by the RBM Board in April 2018. The MSWG convenes and coordinates RBM Partnership members around a multi-sectorial action in the field of malaria to facilitate learning and share best practices from the field.

The MSWG brings together different stakeholders across different sectors including; health, science and technology, oil & gas, international cooperation (cross border), housing, infrastructure, extraction industries, water and sanitation, environment, food and agriculture, education, immigration, tourism, customs, security, finance, trade, political, private, civil society, labour, research & development, media, information & communications technology, social protection and justice. The aim is to align partners in their actions for new interventions as well as putting new life into those that already exist, and coordinate and manage these in new and innovative ways.

The Terms of References (TORs) as approved by the RBM Board are available in English and French. The structure will be in line with the structure of other RBM Working Groups, following the Working Group Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The governance of the MSWG ensures adequate participation of malaria-affected countries and demonstrates a self-financing and self-convening capacity.

The coordination of the MSWG is guaranteed though the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) which is hosting the MSWG Secretariat.

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Resources

The Comprehensive Multisectoral Action framework - Malaria and Sustainable Development
Guidelines for mainstreaming malaria in the multisectoral national and district plans
Multi-Sectoral Working Group (MSWG) ToR
Potential Topics for the Multi-Sectoral Working Group
MSWG Sectors Overview
History of the succesful struggle against malaria in the Islamic Republic of Iran: From the earliest records to imminent elimination
Many Dams One Health (Flyer)