African leaders seek “new era” of malaria funding after U.S. aid cut

African heads of state have called for a reset in malaria financing, warning that stalled progress and shrinking international aid risk reversing decades of gains against one of the continent’s deadliest diseases.

At the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, leaders endorsed findings from the 2025 Africa Malaria Progress Report, which showed African Union member states accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases and 594,119 deaths in 2024 — representing 96% of global cases and 97% of deaths.

Progress has largely plateaued since 2015, with only five countries meeting the African Union’s 2025 target of reducing malaria incidence or mortality by 75% under the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, who chairs the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), said worsening financial conditions threaten elimination efforts.

“The perfect storm of converging crises threatening malaria elimination has intensified. Official Development Assistance for health in Africa has declined by 70% in just four years, and the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund fell significantly short of its $18 billion target. We cannot allow these challenges to reverse decades of progress that have prevented 1.64 billion cases and saved 12.4 million lives since 2000,” Boko said.

The report warned that a 30% reduction in malaria funding could result in 640 million fewer insecticide-treated nets, 146 million additional cases and 397,000 additional deaths by 2030 — three-quarters of them among children under five. Annual cases could exceed 400 million and deaths surpass one million without urgent intervention.

Leaders pledged to expand domestic resource mobilisation and scale innovative financing models. End Malaria Councils and Funds operating in 12 countries have mobilised more than $200 million through public-private partnerships, the report said.

They also urged international partners to honour pledges and renew the World Bank’s Malaria Booster Programme, which committed over $1 billion between 2005 and 2010. A revived facility, leaders argued, would help close funding gaps, expand community health systems and deploy next-generation tools.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan highlighted Africa’s growing research capacity.

“Our approach has spanned the full spectrum of what it takes to beat this disease. Tanzania has invested in world-class research and is home to the Ifakara Health Institute, where our scientists are working at the frontier of new technologies, including gene drive-an innovative approach that aims to ensure mosquitoes can no longer transmit the malaria parasite. This is African science, conducted by African researchers, addressing an African challenge,” she said.

The report also pointed to technological advances. In 2025, 74% of distributed mosquito nets were next-generation dual active-ingredient products, compared with 20% two years earlier. Twenty-four countries have introduced WHO-approved malaria vaccines, with 28.3 million doses distributed last year.

Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, Chief Executive Officer of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said full funding would transform outcomes.

“Full deployment of existing and new tools, combined with full funding, could save over 13.2 million lives over the next 15 years and boost African economies by over $140 billion. Every dollar invested in the Global Fund delivers $19 in returns. We have the tools. We need the resources,” he said.

Leaders framed malaria control as central to health sovereignty and economic resilience, warning that without sustained investment, Africa risks a costly resurgence.