Women at the Heart of the Fight Against Malaria: Launch of the “Women Accelerating Victory towards Malaria Elimination (WAVE)” Project in Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and the DRC

What if women became the true catalysts for malaria elimination in Africa?

This is the bold vision championed by Speak Up Africa through the WAVE project (Women Accelerating Victory towards Malaria Elimination), funded by the Global Fund.
Launched simultaneously in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, WAVE aims to transform women—often the first victims of malaria—into powerful drivers of change.

This initiative supports 16 women-led civil society organizations, strengthening their leadership and impact on national malaria control policies and programmes.

A Women-Centered Leadership Initiative

The WAVE project seeks to reinforce women’s participation and leadership at all levels of the malaria response—from policy design to implementation.
As malaria continues to disproportionately affect pregnant women and children under five, this gender-responsive and inclusive approach fills a critical gap: recognizing women’s power to influence decisions in public health.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo: Strong Political Commitment

In Kinshasa, the project launch marked a major milestone, bringing together a diverse group of malaria stakeholders: parliamentarians, health professionals, civil society leaders, journalists and health sector decision-makers, all united around one goal—making malaria a national priority.

Chaired by the Representative of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, the opening ceremony showcased robust political and individual commitment, with all participants expressing strong support for the project’s implementation.

In the same momentum, the Chair of the National Assembly’s Malaria Commission met with the organizations selected for WAVE and reaffirmed Parliament’s determination to strengthen malaria financing, particularly through the 2026 Finance Law.

The Chair of the CCM/DRC also expressed her full support for the project, underscoring the importance of women’s leadership in achieving malaria elimination goals.

These commitments reflect a new dynamic where women’s participation and political leadership combine to build a malaria-free DRC.

In Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso: Collective Mobilization for a Malaria-Free Future

From 22 to 24 September 2025, WAVE’s launch workshops were held simultaneously in Ouagadougou and Abidjan, in partnership with the NMCP, the CCM, Côte d’Ivoire’s Directorate of Gender and Equity, and several civil society organizations.

These meetings laid the foundations for inclusive collaboration between public health actors, national institutions and women’s organizations.

They led to the development of concrete, budgeted advocacy action plans aimed at promoting equitable and sustainable malaria interventions.

Discussions highlighted the need to:

• place women at the center of national elimination strategies;
• strengthen the capacities of women-led CSOs;
• build synergies between public, community and political actors.

Towards a Malaria-Free Africa Powered by Women

By bringing together the voices of parliamentarians, national programme leaders, community leaders and champions of change, the WAVE project embodies a clear vision: an Africa where women are no longer just beneficiaries, but agents of transformation.

With support from the Global Fund and coordination by Speak Up Africa, this initiative is building a sustainable movement to accelerate victory against malaria—driven by women’s leadership, mobilization and innovation.

Written by Papa Djibril FAYE & Dr. Benjamin SABUE