About the WHO Global Malaria Programme
Last update: 22 June 2016
The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria. Our work is guided by the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS) adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015.
The Global Technical Strategy provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries working towards malaria control and elimination. It sets ambitious but attainable global targets for 2030, including:
- Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90%
- Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90%
- Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries
- Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free
The timeline of 2016–2030 is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, endorsed in 2015 by all United Nations Member States.
Technical support: a core role for WHO
WHO’s leadership in providing technical support to malaria-endemic countries spans more than 60 years. With technical staff in all malaria-endemic countries, WHO has a unique footprint and is well poised to support Member States to achieve their malaria goals.
The WHO Global Malaria Programme is committed to supporting Member States to achieve the Global Technical Strategy targets through:
- Setting and disseminating global guidance and policies on malaria control and elimination;
- Supporting countries as they adapt, adopt and implement WHO global norms and standards for malaria control and elimination;
- Assisting countries as they formulate national malaria strategic plans;
- Helping countries develop robust malaria surveillance systems;
- Responding to requests from countries to address biological and operational emergencies and bottleneck issues.
As part of its core mandate, the Global Malaria Programme keeps independent score of global progress in the fight against malaria. Its flagship annual publication, the World Malaria Report, contains the latest available data on the impact of malaria interventions around the world.
A strengthened policy-setting process
Beginning in 2010, the Global Malaria Programme initiated an extensive review of WHO’s policy-making process for malaria control and elimination. The aim was to establish a more rigorous, efficient, and transparent process that would allow for timely responses to the ongoing challenges faced by national malaria programmes.
Following the recommendation of an external advisory group, the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC) was established in 2011 to provide independent advice to WHO on all policy areas relating to malaria control and elimination. The MPAC meets twice annually and is comprised of 15 leading malaria experts.
In the 2014–2015 biennium, the MPAC guided the development of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 and provided strategic advice on a range of technical issues, from recommendations on the use of mass drug administration to the risks associated with vector-control scale back.
The Global Malaria Programme works closely with all major partners in the global malaria community: with endemic country governments and regulatory authorities, United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organizations, private-public partnerships and campaign groups. The department also participates in all major inter-agency task forces, and in multi-partner and multisectoral initiatives on malaria.
The Global Malaria Programme is led by Dr Pedro L. Alonso. The department is housed in WHO's HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria cluster, led by Assistant Director-General Dr Ren Minghui.
As of June 2015, the department has been reorganized to better respond to the challenges outlined in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030. The new organizational structure includes 7 technical units:
- Drug Efficacy and Response, Dr Pascal Ringwald, Coordinator
- Elimination, Team Leader (vacant)
- Entomology and Vector Control (vacant)
- Prevention, Diagnostics and Treatment, Dr Andrea Bosman, Coordinator
- Surveillance, Dr Abdisalan Noor, Team Leader
- Strategy, Evidence and Economics, Dr Richard Cibulskis, Coordinator
- Technical Support and Capacity Building, Dr Leonard Ortega, Team Leader
WHO Regional Malaria Advisors are based in all endemic regions and play an important role in the Organization’s global response to malaria.
- Regional Office for Africa, Dr Issa Sanou
- Regional Office for the Americas, (vacant)
- Regional Office for Europe, Dr Elkhan Gasimov
- Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hoda Atta
- Regional Office for South-East Asia, Dr Eva Christophel
- Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Dr Rabi Abeyasinghe
The department’s Programme Manager is Erin Shutes; external relations and advocacy are led by Saira Stewart, and administration is led by Simone Colairo.
The department's publications are available electronically on this website and hardcopies are distributed to Ministries of Health in endemic countries and to key partners. Some publications are also available for purchase through the WHO Online Bookshop. The department's flagship publication, the World Malaria Report, is published annually in December.