Towards Elimination of Malaria in Tanzania

NETCELL project, 2017 © FDFA

Tanzania deploys innovative approaches for malaria control and elimination since 2000. To sustain and expand gains that have been achieved, the project will capacitate Tanzanian institutions to engage in subnational, intersectoral and cross borders elimination strategies, thus making available best practices to normative bodies such as World Health Organization (WHO). Tanzania’s and Switzerland’s recognized strong expertise, network and influence in malaria elimination will be increased through this programme.

Country/region	Topic	Period	Budget
Tanzania	Health Employment & economic development Governance nothemedefined Malaria Business support & economic inclusion Public sector policy	01.12.2018 - 30.04.2025	CHF 7’594’771

The project in brief

Background	Tanzania seeks to eliminate malaria related deaths by 2030. Malaria accounts for 40% of public health spending in highly affected countries. There is much to gain by eliminating malaria. Malaria-free countries have 5 times greater economic growth than countries with malaria. Since 2002, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) in Tanzania to develop and implement innovative malaria control interventions, notably through the large scale use of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and improved case management. Financing for malaria is primarily provided by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), which is also funded by SDC via the Global Program Health; from 2017 to date, NMCP scored the best GFATM grant performance score “A1” which positions Tanzania in the top tier performance. Between 2005 and 2016, malaria related child deaths were reduced by more than 50%. NMCP has developed strategies that will expand malaria transmission free zones in highly populous areas. Experience from the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) shows that border regions are highly resilient to malaria elimination efforts due to their remoteness. Malaria elimination also requires engagement of different sectors (infrastructure, power, agriculture, water, housing etc.) into elimination plans. A high resolution surveillance system is required to identify rapidly the occurrence of malaria cases in transmission free zones. There is a unique opportunity for Switzerland to share and scale up its expertise, experience and outreach.
Objectives	To contribute to malaria elimination by 2030 through engagement in subnational, intersectoral and regional malaria elimination efforts and influence global policy debates and technical guidelines through the sharing of Tanzanian practices.
Target groups	Tanzania’s population of 58 million, (among them Women in reproductive age (appx 26million) and Children under 5 (approximately 7 million). Government of Tanzania, Ministry of Health (MoH), National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), National Malaria steering Committee, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) East Africa Community (EAC) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) population ( approximately 370 million)
Medium-term outcomes	Tanzania NMCP has mapped malaria risk in real time in all 184 districts to inform operations and implement appropriate strategies in 50 districts Tanzania NMCP has implemented a multi-sectoral action plan by including non-health sectors, particularly the private sector, and extended this approach to cross-border and regional initiatives. Tanzanian academic institutions, in collaboration with Swiss partners, continue to provide high quality data and experience to optimally inform global malaria control and elimination policies allowing accelerated progress towards 2030 malaria elimination
Results	Expected results: NMCP supported by Swiss TPH at central level for the development, monitoring and implementation of the next National Malaria Strategic Plan, including age, gender and pregnancy risk factors President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) implement NMCP guidance in 50 district malaria plans that address local environmental risks Sectors (water, education, agriculture, public works, tourism, energy etc.) linked to environmental risks are accountably engaged in district malaria elimination plans Cross-border action through policy harmonization reduces malaria risk Researches, publications and scientific events deepen malaria risks towards age, gender and pregnancy women and present targeted appropriate measures WHO have available best practices for norms and standards to be disseminated worldwide Results from previous phases: Coordinated malaria partnership with high accountability for results and harmonized donor financing ensuring high value for money. High GFATM grant performance score of “A1” (2017-2019) 10 million fewer people live in areas with very high malaria risk (17million in 2000; 7million in 2019). 4 fold reduction in Under 5 mortality (147/1000 births in 1999; 39/1000 births in 2019) through high coverage with malaria prevention and intensified measles vaccination. Tanzania provides large number of best practices to normative World Health Organization (WHO) bodies and contributes to shaping WHO’s Global Technical Strategy on malaria elimination.
Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Credit area	Development cooperation
Project partners	Contract partner Foreign academic and research organisation Private sector Swiss Academic and Research Institution Foreign private sector South/East Research Organisation of South East Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Coordination with other projects and actors	Elimination 8 Initiative (E8), East Africa Community (EAC), The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI), Roll Back Malaria (RBM), SDC’s ESA country offices, Swiss academia and private sector (Novartis, Syngenta, Vestergaard).
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF 7’594’771 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 6’063’515
Project phases	Phase 1 01.12.2018 - 30.04.2025 (Current phase)

Further technical details

Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	HEALTH BUSINESS & OTHER SERVICES GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Malaria control Business support services and institutions Public sector policy and administrative management
Cross-cutting topics	The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
Aid Type	Mandate with fiduciary funds Mandate without fiduciary fund Project and programme contribution
Project number	7F10130