Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $2,500,000 over five years to the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the technical arm of the African Union, to support the evaluation, preparation, and potential deployment of genetically-based vector control technologies to help eliminate malaria in some African regions. Deployment would only take place if determined to be feasible, ethical, safe, approved by the regulatory authorities, and supported by the affected communities.
This funding will support AUDA-NEPAD’s work educating government regulators about genetically-based vector control technologies and continuing to develop regulatory capacity for novel vector control approaches, including gene drive mosquitoes, at national and regional levels. AUDA-NEPAD is also a grantee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This follows Open Philanthropy's April 2017 support and falls within its focus area of scientific research, specifically within its interest in advancing human health and wellbeing.