To provide a coordinated global approach to fighting malaria, the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership was launched in 1998 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.

The RBM Partnership has expanded exponentially since its launch and is now made up of a wide range of partners — including malaria-endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions — who bring a formidable assembly of expertise, infrastructure and funds into the fight against the disease.

Vision

By 2015 the malaria-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are achieved. Malaria is no longer a major cause of mortality and no longer a barrier to social and economic development and growth anywhere in the world.

Mission

To work together to enable sustained delivery and use of the most effective prevention and treatment for those affected most by malaria by promoting increased investment in health systems and incorporation of malaria control into all relevant multisector activities.

The strength of partnership

The RBM Partnership’s strength lies in its ability to form effective partnerships both globally and nationally. Partners are working together to scale up malaria-control efforts at country level, coordinating their activities to avoid duplication and fragmentation and to ensure optimal use of resources.

Raising awareness

A key role of the RBM Partnership is to lead continuing advocacy campaigns to raise awareness of malaria at the global, regional, national and community levels, thus keeping malaria high on the development agenda, mobilizing resources for malaria control and for research into new and more effective tools (including a vaccine), and ensuring that vulnerable individuals are key participants in rolling back malaria.