Strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness and response through One Health approach in Malawi

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. 

Expected outcomes

When completed, Malawi expects that its Pandemic Fund project will enable it to: 

• Improve early warning and rapid response capabilities 
• Establish interoperable surveillance and laboratory systems n>
• Institutionalize a trained One Health workforce 
• Develop stronger governance mechanisms for AMR, biosecurity, and cross-border threats.