Beat Malaria Advocates from 45 U.S. States Travel to Washington D.C. to Advocate for U.S. Leadership in Funding Global Malaria Programs at our 2025 Leadership Summit!

United to Beat Malaria 2025 Leadership Summit Recap

From March 16-18th, 2025, more than 120 passionate malaria advocates from 45 U.S. states (our largest reach ever!) traveled to Washington D.C. for our annual Leadership Summit to advocate for strong bipartisan leadership and robust funding for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund); Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; UNICEF; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We were joined by advocates from diverse backgrounds: veterans, medical providers, small business owners, parents, students, professors, and researchers from 38 universities, and innovators from across sectors. Together, they reached 178 Congressional offices in support of global malaria programs! 

Throughout our Summit program, we highlighted the critical programs and agencies working to address malaria and make progress towards a healthier and more equitable world such as PMI (USAID/ CDC), the Global Fund, Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO and how these efforts are truly a local to global collaborative effort. 

On Sunday March 16th, 2025, Champions participated in interactive workshops and trainings from the Beat Malaria Grassroots Advocacy, Communications, and Developing/Fundraising teams to hone their skills in advocacy, communications, and activating their community through grassroots fundraising. They also heard from Oscar Armando Lopez III, UNA-USA’s 13th Youth Observer to the United Nations, on the power of their personal stories and the importance of grassroots advocacy.  

Monday, March 17th, 2025 opened with sober yet inspiring views from Dr. David Walton (former U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator for PMI), Chris Collins (Friends of the Global Fight), Avery Avrakotos (Gates Foundation), and Dr. Daniel Ngamije (WHO Global Malaria Programme), who shared just how far our investments in complementary programs, from vaccines to rapid diagnostics and bed nets, to community health workers have and should continue to go towards eliminating malaria, easing disease burden, and improving the lives of women and children. 

As told through our panels, Champions learned about work on the ground to drive malaria control and elimination, the benefits of global collaboration, and how the current disruptions to funding have impacted this live-saving work from Dr. Maureen Momanyi (UNICEF), Dr. Roberto Montoya (PAHO), Dr. Jimmy Opigo (Uganda National Malaria Control Programme).  

This year, champions had the opportunity to hear from Reverend Dr. Justin B. Fung (Christ City Church) and Lanre Williams-Ayedun (World Relief) about how faith-based organizations leverage their deep community ties, established trust networks, and extensive reach into remote areas to deliver healthcare services to vulnerable populations that might otherwise be difficult to access through traditional channels.  

To strengthen the case that malaria investments enhance America’s security, strength, and prosperity, champions learned about domestic impacts from J.D. Darr (National Pest Management Association), Dr. Winter Okoth (Malaria Researcher/Advocate), Mike Steinberg (Chevron), and Jamie Bay Nishi (American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene). The panel emphasized that malaria poses a genuine risk to the U.S. and that investments in malaria control and prevention bolster economies, boost trade, and secure strong diplomatic relationships. 

Simona Bosello (Novartis), Patrick Sieyes (Vestergaard) and Daniel Ufere (SC Johnson) also shared with us the uplifting opportunities: with new tools, like next generation bed nets, new spatial repellants, and two new malaria vaccines, malaria elimination is possible! 

The morning of Advocacy Day (Tuesday, March 18th, 2025), former Republican Congressman and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce energized our champions and reminded them why their voice matters – exactly what they needed to hear before heading off to the Hill. Champions felt even better prepared after hearing from former Congressmen, experts in the field, in R&D, and program development to make their data-driven case for malaria elimination to members of Congress.

Special thanks to advocacy partners from Rotary International, Junior Chamber International (JCI), the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, SC Johnson, EBC financial, Novartis, Vestergaard, BASF, and others who demonstrated that we are stronger when we work together! Thank you also to our Summit sponsors The Gates Foundation, SC Johnson, Novartis, and Vestergaard for making this event possible! 

We know the fight to #BeatMalaria is going to take all of us staying engaged throughout the year! Your passion and enthusiasm is critical in maintaining momentum. So, pat yourselves on the back, and gear up for the next phase of our advocacy this year — because the work continues! Keep reading for an overview of key advocacy moments in 2025! 

Upcoming Advocacy Moments 

Our advocacy moments are designed to continue to develop your advocacy skills and keep up the drumbeat for global malaria programs year-round! Additionally, your participation in our advocacy actions will inform our summit selection — so make sure you stay engaged! 

•  Monday, April 21-27 | World Malaria Day Week of Action 

• • Champions will have the opportunity to engage with Members of Congress by posting on social media, signing a petition, collecting postcards, and making calls to Congress. 

• August 20 | World Mosquito Day 

• • Champions will have the opportunity to engage with Members of Congress by posting on social media, signing a petition and making calls to Congress. 

• September | Virtual Advocacy Meetings 

• • Exact date will be announced at a later date 

• • Champions will have the opportunity to meet VIRTUALLY with Congressional offices. A sign-up link will be circulated to confirm participation. 

• • Champions will be trained in the lead up to their meetings. 

 Additional opportunities to engage via social media and petition signatures will also be available throughout the year. If you are not receiving text messages from us, please text the word CHAMPION to 833-904-4739 to enroll. 

Webinars 

Click here to register and view dates for our upcoming webinars! Our webinars are geared to prepping you for each advocacy action throughout the year. The next webinar dates are as follows: 

• Monday, March 31st, 2025 at 6:00pm EST – Summit Recap 

• Monday, April 21st, 2025 at 6:00pm EST – World Malaria Day Webinar 

Thank you again for all your amazing work! We look forward to an impactful year ahead! 

To request postcards for World Malaria Day, contact Maegan Cross at mcross@unfoundation.org!