The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the announcement that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) will commit US$ 140 million over 4 years to support initiatives and research aimed at ending malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

In particular, it welcomes the news that this funding is specifically aimed at developing research by African institutions. This is an important contribution to a key component of WHO's 2021-2030 NTD road map commitment to facilitate country ownership by building on expertise and capacity in the region.

The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Kigali, Rwanda, and which also featured African heads of state and ministers, saw delegates sign the Kigali Declaration, which envisages an end to the burden of NTDs for poor communities the world over.

Specifically, this funding will enable the fight against NTDs to be conducted by means of research and development of more effective treatments, interventions and vector control. Better modelling and data will also ensure that community health workers are able to better target their interventions where they are most urgently needed.

At the Kigali Summit, Melinda Gates, Co-Chair, also announced that in honour of the late Dr Mwelecele Malecela, former Director of the WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases and one of Africa's most highly respected scientists and public health leaders, WHO and BMGF have launched a mentorship programme to help African women working in NTDs overcome barriers and the launch of ARISE, a new funding mechanism centred around country priorities and leadership.