Change the Story, Save Lives: new report highlights the critical involvement of the private sector in strengthening the fight against malaria

13 May 2025 marks the launch of a new report titled “Change the Story, Save Lives: The Private Sector’s Role in Ending Malaria.” This report, developed as part of the Zero Malaria: Change the Story campaign, makes a powerful case for private sector investment in malaria elimination efforts in Africa.

Launched on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum – the largest annual gathering of major private sector companies in Africa – this report is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Speak Up Africa, Malaria No More UK (MNM UK), the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria seeking to strengthen efforts to eliminate malaria in a context of declining donor funding and other emerging threats that jeopardise the laudable progress made since the turn of the century.

As well as advancing strong arguments for increased private sector involvement in general, the report also emphasises the specific link between malaria elimination and gender equity and marks the launch of the Voix EssentiELLEs Fund for Malaria Elimination – a new fund, managed by Speak Up Africa, for private sector partners to invest in community-led, women-driven malaria elimination efforts in Francophone Africa. By investing in this Fund, companies can help drive down malaria levels, re-energise societies, bring gender equality and boost economies.

The report also highlights existing innovative financing mechanisms and resource mobilisation platforms to which the private sector can contribute, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and national End Malaria Councils and Funds, both of which are vital instruments in bolstering malaria elimination efforts on the African continent.

As stated in the report’s foreword: “Ending malaria is not just a health imperative – it is an investment in a healthier, more equitable, safer and more prosperous future for every nation.”