Strengthening Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response through One Health Approach in Malawi (SP3ROHAM)

Background

Malawi was awarded US$25 million from the Pandemic Fund to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response. The grant catalyzed an additional US$119 million in co-financing from multilateral, global health, civil society, and private sector partners, as well as US$22 million in co-investment from the government’s own budget. The project brought together a wide range of partners, such as Amref Health Africa, Malawi Red Cross, among many others.

Malawi seeks to fortify its public health system in the face of overlapping health and economic crises. There is an urgent need to increase coordination across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, for example, as dynamics such as deforestation and displacement increase interactions among humans and animals and, in turn, elevate zoonotic spillover risks. Complicating the public health landscape further are challenges at the community level, including inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene and limited access to health services.

Malawi’s emphasis on multisectoral cooperation is aligned fully with the values of the Pandemic Fund. The project is led by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Local Government Finance Committee with support from three implementing entities: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, and the World Bank.

Project objectives

By 2030, Malawi and its project partners aim to ensure the timely detection, response, and management of priority diseases and to minimize the impact of public health threats on the country's people.

Implementation arrangements and key components

Malawi's project aligns precisely with the Pandemic Fund’s three priorities: surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. Detail on all project components follows.

Strengthening One Health surveillance. Activities in this area center on establishing a well-functioning surveillance and early warning system that integrates data from the human, animal, environmental, and wildlife health sectors in real time. They also include strengthening sentinel and community-based surveillance, training frontline personnel, as well as equipping those personnel with Geographic Information Systems tools and other digital resources. There are also plans to reinforce cross-border protocols in support of national and regional health security.

Modernizing the One Health laboratory system. The focus of this work is on enabling swift testing and diagnosis of priority diseases, strengthening the specimen referral and transport system, and improving data-sharing across health sectors, including by expanding and integrating the Laboratory Information Management System. Activities include strengthening genomic surveillance and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection, upgrading cold chains and biorepositories, improving biosafety and biosecurity, and developing legal and policy frameworks to guide governance and quality assurance.

Developing the One Health workforce. Activities in this area include developing a national competency framework and certification system to shape training, deploying digital learning tools, and offering both the Field Epidemiology Training Program and the Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training, alongside multisectoral simulation exercises and mentorship. There are also plans to engage community leaders, civil society organizations, and non-health actors for grassroots detection and response and to digitize the HR database.

The FAO will support the development of digital reporting tools for animal health, upgrading veterinary laboratories, and training workers. UNICEF brings its expertise in health system strengthening and community engagement, as well as its skill in convening multisectoral partners. The World Bank brings a strong track record in managing large-scale health and emergency response programs, as well as its expertise in financial accountability and interministerial coordination.