The mosquito-borne disease malaria continues to present a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. In 2023, the disease was responsible for approximately 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide, with the African Region bearing over 90% of this burden. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has positioned itself as a major funder and strategic force in the fight, committing substantial resources to finance the delivery of existing tools and the research and development of future innovations.
The Overarching Strategy
The foundation’s approach is guided by the belief that eradication is the only sustainable long-term solution to the malaria challenge. This strategy differentiates between three distinct goals: control, elimination, and eradication. Control efforts focus on reducing disease incidence and mortality by scaling up existing preventative measures and treatments in high-burden settings.
Elimination is the goal of interrupting local mosquito-borne transmission within a defined geographic area, which the World Health Organization certifies after three consecutive years without indigenous cases. The ultimate goal of eradication requires the permanent reduction of the parasite’s global prevalence to zero. Because the parasite and the mosquito vector constantly evolve resistance to current tools, the foundation views eradication as necessary to prevent an endless cycle of investment merely to maintain control.
The strategy emphasizes the use of surveillance and data for decision-making, helping partners track transmission patterns and target interventions more effectively. This includes efforts to “shrink the malaria map” by focusing on areas where elimination is feasible, thereby reducing the global parasite reservoir.
Investment in Tools and Technology
A substantial part of the foundation’s funding is directed toward developing next-generation interventions, recognizing that current tools are inadequate to achieve global eradication.
Vaccine Research
In the area of vaccine research, the BMGF has supported the development and deployment of the two malaria vaccines recommended by the WHO: RTS,S (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M. These vaccines are being deployed for children in regions with moderate-to-high transmission. The foundation also supports the Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) in developing novel vaccine candidates like MAV02.
Vector Control
Vector control research is another area of significant investment, primarily through the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC). This work focuses on developing new classes of insecticides for use in long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying to overcome growing mosquito resistance. The foundation also backs innovative strategies like genetic-based vector control platforms, which aim to reduce the population of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. These efforts are important for addressing outdoor transmission, which traditional nets and spraying do not effectively target.
Drug Discovery and Diagnostics
In drug discovery, the foundation supports organizations like the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to create new antimalarial compounds. The focus is on developing non-artemisinin-based treatments to combat drug resistance, along with single-dose cures and prophylactic medicines. Investment is also made in rapid, affordable diagnostic tests that accurately detect the parasite in the field, which is necessary for effective case management and targeted surveillance.
Global Implementation and Partnerships
The translation of research into real-world impact relies heavily on a network of global partnerships and effective implementation mechanisms. The foundation is a major financial contributor and strategic partner to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which serves as the primary international financing mechanism. The BMGF provides substantial pledges, such as a recent commitment of $912 million, and actively participates in the Global Fund’s governance.
Beyond financing, the foundation works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to set global standards and guidelines for malaria control policies. This engagement ensures that new tools, once developed and licensed, are rapidly incorporated into policy and made available to countries. Operational partners, such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the RBM Partnership, are also supported to enhance on-the-ground delivery. These organizations help governments strengthen local health systems, improve supply chain management, and use data to optimize intervention delivery in remote and high-risk communities.
Measuring Impact and Setting Future Targets
The foundation tracks progress using measurable health outcomes to demonstrate the impact of its investments and to maintain sustained political and financial support. Since 2000, the scale-up of effective interventions has been associated with a significant reduction in the global malaria burden, preventing an estimated 2.2 billion cases and saving approximately 12.7 million lives.
Key metrics for success include the reduction in all-cause child mortality, which is a strong indicator of reduced malaria deaths, and a decrease in case incidence rates. The foundation continues to focus efforts on the 13 countries that currently account for the majority of global malaria cases and deaths to close the coverage gap. While the long-term goal remains global eradication, immediate future targets involve accelerating progress toward elimination in specific regions, such as the commitment to eliminate malaria across southern Africa by 2030 through the Elimination Eight Initiative (E8).