Global funding trends for malaria research in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic analysis

Abstract

Background
Total domestic and international funding for malaria is inadequate to achieve WHO global targets in burden reduction by 2030. We describe the global trends of investments for malaria-related research in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and compare investment to national disease burden to identify areas of relative funding strength and potential neglected populations. We also considered funding for malaria control (FMC).

Methods
Research funding data related to malaria from 1997-2013 was sourced from existing datasets, directly from 13 major public and philanthropic global health funders and from funding databases. Investments (reported in US dollars) were considered by geographical area of focus and compared to data on parasite prevalence and populations at risk in SSA. 45 SSA countries were ranked by research funding received.

Findings
There were 333 research awards totaling $814·4 million. Public health research covered $308·1m (37·8%) and clinical trials $275·2m (33·8%). Tanzania ($107·8m; 13·2%), Uganda ($97·9m; 12·0%) and Kenya ($92·9m; 11·4%) received highest sum research investment and the most individual research awards. Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda remain highly-ranked after adjusting for national GDP. Countries with relatively high malaria burden but receiving little research or FMC investment include Central African Republic and Sierra Leone (ranked 40th and 35th respectively). Congo and Guinea had relatively high malaria mortality rates, yet ranked 38th and 25th, respectively, receiving little investment.

Interpretation
Some countries receive relatively large investments overall (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) whilst others receive little or no investments for research (Sierra Leone, Central African Republic). Research investments are typically highest where there is also greatest FMC. Investment strategies should consider more equitable research and operational investments across countries to include currently neglected and vulnerable populations.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Michael Head: orcid.org/0000-0003-1189-0531

ORCID for Victor Alegana: orcid.org/0000-0001-5177-9227

ORCID for Rebecca Brown: orcid.org/0000-0001-5825-6859

ORCID for Stuart Clarke: orcid.org/0000-0002-7009-1548

ORCID for Marie-Louise Newell: orcid.org/0000-0002-1074-7699

ORCID for Sabu Padmadas: orcid.org/0000-0002-6538-9374

ORCID for Andrew Tatem: orcid.org/0000-0002-7270-941X

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