Evaluation of capacity, quality and decision-making in subnational tailoring of malaria interventions

Despite historic strides in reducing malaria, global progress has stalled with 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths reported in 2022 as transmission becomes increasingly localized in hard-to-reach sub-national areas where traditional, uniform approaches are no longer effective. To address these remaining pockets, global malaria strategies, including the Global Fund Strategy (2023–2028), are prioritizing Sub-National Tailoring (SNT), an approach that uses local data and contextual evidence to determine the optimal mix of interventions and delivery strategies for specific geographic regions. Embedded as a core “Program Essential” necessary to reach Global Technical Strategy targets, SNT receives Global Fund support for critical activities like risk stratification and surveillance expansion in partnership with bodies like the WHO and Roll Back Malaria. Consequently, funding applicants are required to incorporate evidence-based SNT strategies across all stages of the grant lifecycle from country dialogue and funding request development through to grant-making and implementation.