Introduction

Launched in 2019 by His Excellency President Lungu, the Zambia End Malaria Council and Fund was the first council to launch. The mission of the council is to ‘achieve a malaria-free Zambia’ through:

• advocating for malaria to remain high on the national development agenda
• mobilising in-kind and financial commitments to address gaps and bottlenecks in the national malaria strategic plan
• mutual accountability between sectors to achieve the council’s mission

The council meets at least once each quarter to receive updates from the National Malaria Elimination Centre and report on commitments to address gaps in the national malaria strategic plan.

The council is a coalition of:

• senior government leaders (such as Ministers of Health, Tourism, Finance; Governor of the Bank of Zamiba; Director-General of the Zambia Revenue Authority)
• private sector executives (such as First Quantum Minerals, Trade Kings)
• philanthropists (such as Isdell: Flowers Cross Border Malaria Initiative)
• religious leaders (such as Anglican Diocese, Islamic Supreme Council)
• a local chief

To support its resource mobilisation objective, the members of the End Malaria Council established the End Malaria Fund. This non-profit foundation is a subsidiary of the council and provides a mechanism for receiving, pooling, managing and distributing financial resources.

The fund is managed by an independent board of directors chaired by a representative of the private sector and appointed by the council. During each quarterly End Malaria Council meeting, the fund submits a quarterly report on its activities and financial statements to ensure oversight and accountability for the use of donated resources.

The council has also facilitated the establishment of End Malaria Councils in each province. These subnational councils convene local senior leaders to advocate for malaria to be a priority and to mobilise additional commitments for action and resources. Each subnational council is supported by a member of the national End Malaria Council and have been instrumental in supporting the implementation of malaria interventions in targeted districts and communities.

Key commitments

Since launching, the End Malaria Council has mobilised more than US$8 million of in-kind and financial resources to support the national malaria strategic plan. The council led a multi-year communications campaign to sustain and raise the visibility of malaria (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic). This campaign included producing television and radio advertisements promoting how to prevent and seek treatment for malaria. These advertisements were run using advertising inventory donated by the Zambia Revenue Authority. This communication campaign has now expanded with weekly malaria programmes being aired on popular radio networks, including Radio Christian Voice.

In 2019, there was a lack of resources to transport insecticide to North-Western Province, which threatened the planned vector control campaign. First Quantum Minerals, an End Malaria Council member, loaded the insecticides and other malaria commodities onto trucks it was already running to and from the province, which allowed the campaign to go forward as planned.

The council also established the Faith Leaders Advocating for Malaria Elimination (FLAME), a network of religious leaders that organises community events (such as marches), mobilises resources (such as golf tournament) and disseminates social and behavioural change communications. 

The national and provincial End Malaria Councils have supported the mass drug administration campaigns led by the national malaria elimination centre, including mobilising more than US$1.5 million for procurement of commodities. These campaigns were conducted in targeted regions identified by the national programme where there were upsurges. 

John Mukuka: Zambia End Malaria Council Officer

John serves as the Zambia End Malaria Council Officer. He supports the national coordinator in performing day-to-day secretariat functions that further supports the activities of the End Malaria Fund and Council board members. The routine duties include communication, arranging for various high-level multi-sectoral meetings, facilitating advocacy, resource mobilisation and action tracking. He also develops various reports and briefs, including investment pitch materials for the End Malaria Council and other high-level stakeholders. John also supports the subnational End Malaria Councils in the 10 provinces of Zambia, by providing technical support in various areas based on the council’s core mandates.

Lear more about the Zambia End Malaria Council and Fund

Please visit the Zambia End Malaria Council and Fund website for more information.