Regional Impact: Cross-border Coordination Drives Down Malaria Cases in Southern Africa
Since its launch in 2018, the MOSASWA initiative has shown how regional, public-private collaborations can accelerate malaria elimination.
Bringing together the governments of Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini, with support from the Global Fund, the Gates Foundation and Goodbye Malaria, MOSASWA coordinates surveillance, vector control, data sharing and community outreach across borders to target malaria hotspots and mobile populations who face heightened risks of malaria.
Since the initiative began, malaria cases have declined substantially in southern Mozambique, where more than 1 million people have been protected through indoor residual spraying programs. Imported malaria cases into South Africa and Eswatini have fallen by nearly 50%, helping both countries move closer to their own malaria elimination goals.
However, extreme weather events are creating new challenges. Increasingly frequent cyclones and floods are expanding the areas most at risk for malaria and threatening hard-won gains across the region. In response, the Global Fund announced additional emergency, weather-responsive financing alongside a new phase of the MOSASWA initiative, which includes dedicated support from the Climate x Health Catalytic Fund, recognizing the growing link between extreme weather patterns and malaria transmission.
Emergency funding is critical to respond to outbreaks due to severe weather events, while catalytic funding is key to strengthening community preparedness before crises occur. Investments will be directed to early warning systems, surveillance, rapid response capacity, vector control and community health workers to better anticipate as well as manage malaria risks following extreme weather events.
As countries work towards malaria elimination, MOSASWA offers a compelling example of how regional partnerships can deliver measurable impact. Sustained investment in both cross-border collaboration and climate-resilient malaria programs are essential to protect progress across the region.