Malaria resurgence in SADC linked to climate change and reduced funding
Malaria control efforts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are under threat from increasing cases, climate change, drug resistance, and significant funding cuts. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Angola, and Tanzania carry nearly a quarter of the global malaria burden. The recent end of US government funding and reduced Global Fund allocations have forced difficult choices in malaria protection strategies. Experts urge African governments to increase domestic investment and develop genomic monitoring to counter these challenges.
Malaria control and elimination efforts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are currently facing serious challenges, with case numbers rising over the past two years and some countries reporting reversals in progress.
Four SADC countries—the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Angola, and Tanzania—carry some of the world’s highest malaria burdens, accounting for 22.9% of global cases. This situation complicates the World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate malaria by 2030.
Experts highlight multiple concurrent threats: national malaria programs are overstretched and underfunded, largely reliant on donor funding which is now decreasing. The abrupt end of US government funding in 2025 has impacted the Global Fund’s ability to meet its US$18 billion target for 2026-2028, resulting in an average 18% cut in country allocations.
Additionally, climate change has increased extreme weather events in the region, raising the risk of infectious disease spread. Drug and insecticide resistance further undermine treatment effectiveness, necessitating the establishment of genomics hubs to monitor parasite responses.
South Africa stands out as an exception by funding nearly all its malaria programs domestically. Experts advocate for increased investment by African governments to sustain control and elimination efforts amid these challenges.
