This article is a part of the Women, Farmers, Vaccines: 3 Perspectives on Building Resilient Systems Through Tailored Implementation Support series.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the devastation caused by malaria is unmatched, especially among children. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the disproportionate burden this region faces: a staggering 94% of malaria cases globally (233 million) and 95% of related deaths (580,000) reported in 2022 alone. The introduction of the WHO-approved malaria vaccine heralded a new dawn in the battle against this endemic menace. Yet, the deployment of this life-saving intervention is riddled with challenges, from accessibility hurdles to integration with existing health systems. In early 2024, Dalberg, in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, embarked on a journey to address these challenges through the Malaria Vaccine Technical Assistance Program.

Lillian Kidane,
Partner and Regional Director for Africa

Lillian, can you tell us about Dalberg’s role related to the new malaria vaccine?

The Malaria Vaccine Technical Assistance Program is not just about vaccine distribution. It’s a comprehensive strategy to integrate the vaccine into national health systems, as a way to make sure it reaches the most vulnerable populations. We’re working with multiple countries over the next three years to create tailored approaches to rolling out the new malaria vaccine. We’re already seeing results! In Cameroon, for example, we saw the successful launch of the malaria vaccine in 42 health districts. This lays the groundwork for scaling up to reach the country’s remaining 74 health districts.

What stands out to you as memorable about this work?

This engagement is really a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in public health. Our role with the Malaria Vaccine Technical Assistance Program goes beyond traditional consultancy—it’s evolved to where we’re now orchestrating a cohesive strategy for merging the goals of global health with the demands of local implementation. We’ve been able to develop the kind of nuanced, country-specific approach that is so critical in large-scale programs—drawing on our teams’ deep expertise in sectoral priorities and contextual nuance and our local partners’ understanding of on-the-ground realities. The work also strengthens the case for comprehensive healthcare delivery at the community level—bringing together maternal and child health, immunization, and nutrition as an integrated package of services—as a catalyst for greater uptake and accessibility.

How are you supporting long-term system change?

The whole world will be better off if we can build vaccination systems to more quickly incorporate new vaccines. We’re working with multiple countries over the next three years to create tailored approaches to rolling out the new malaria vaccine. This requires meticulous planning and execution of vaccination strategies, bolstered by social mobilization and strong monitoring mechanisms. We’ve been able to draw on our experience working with government technical units to establish robust governance structures and get buy-in from a range of related entities. Our ambition is for this approach to be replicable. We hope the Gavi-Dalberg collaboration yields valuable insights that will pave the way for faster, smoother introduction of future vaccines, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.