Last Updated: 02/03/2026
Evidence gap mapping for seasonal malaria chemoprevention
Objectives
This project will systematically map existing research related to the effective implementation of SMC, including delivery strategies, contextual factors and outcomes. The project aims to support programme implementers, policymakers, researchers and funding organisations by:
- reviewing the evidence base for informing and improving SMC implementation
- identifying areas where a substantial body of evidence exists, and those where relatively little research has been conducted
- determining where systematic reviews already exist and assessing the overall strength and quality of the evidence
- presenting the evidence base in an accessible, user-friendly format to support policy decisions, programme learning and future research prioritisation.
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is a proven strategy to prevent malaria in young children by administering sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine (SPAQ) at 28-day intervals during peak malaria transmission seasons. Recommended by the World Health Organization since 2012, SMC is now implemented in 20 countries, reaching 54 million children in 2024. Over the past decade, the scale-up of SMC has resulted in a substantial increase in related research. Researchers and policymakers need to keep abreast of the growing volume of evidence to remain well informed, particularly as global health funding constraints emphasise the need for evidence-based policymaking and efficient use of research resources. Understanding the current evidence landscape and systematically identifying priorities and knowledge gaps is critical for maximising research investments, ensuring that future research addresses unmet needs, and informing policy and programmatic decision-making. The Evidence Gap Mapping for SMC project is a 12-month initiative to develop an interactive ‘evidence gap map’ focused on SMC. This project complements a global SMC research priority setting exercise, coordinated by Malaria Consortium through the SMC Alliance. Evidence gap maps, first developed by 3ie, are a form of systematic evidence synthesis that visually map the availability and quality of research across predefined thematic areas. Unlike traditional systematic reviews, evidence gap maps provide a landscape view of where evidence is strong, where important gaps remain, and where future research and investment may be most valuable.
Sep 2025 — Aug 2026
Related Resources
