ABOUT MOBILISING 4 MALARIA
Mobilising for Malaria (M4M) is a Malaria Consortium advocacy programme mainly supported by GlaxoSmithKline’s African Malaria Partnership.
M4M works to combat malaria by raising people’s awareness of the disease in Europe and Africa, in order to bring greater resources to bear against the disease. M4M addresses the shortfall in resources, and also recognises the unique role and urgently needed contribution of civil society, including the media, in the global malaria advocacy movement.
The programme aims to establish a common framework for mobilisation and coordination that strengthens the impact of malaria advocacy at global, regional and national levels. It fosters alliances of effective malaria advocates and activists both in the North and in the South and addresses the need for complementarity and magnifying effect of media coverage, policy debate and NGO action, and therefore the role of each of these elements in securing an effective and comprehensive advocacy response to malaria.
By promoting "Coalitions Against Malaria", the programme encourages partnership working and collaboration between all civil society actors not only in their own countries but through North-South joint initiatives in order to increase public and political awareness and support for an effective and sustained response to Malaria at global, national and local levels. By helping partners work together in the developed and developing world, the programme also aims to broaden the partnership among those shaping the response and bring a new focus to the battle against the disease.
M4M Coalitions
Five Coalitions have already been formed, two in Europe (France and UK) and three in Africa (Cameroon, Ethiopia and Mozambique). Some advocacy activities and initial contacts to set up a Coalition in Belgium have taken place. A new Coalition will also be set up in Benin early 2008.
Although the Coalitions have been formed through different processes and are set up differently in terms of organisational structure and decision making process, they all aim to strengthen the role of civil society and acknowledge the need for complementarity between the business sector, academics, trade unions, NGOs, faith groups and other Non-State actors (including the private sector).
Coalitions were chosen as one of the models by which to implement the programme, as they encourage partnership working, coordination, networking and information-sharing with its members, to ensure that messages reach wider audiences.
M4M Malaria Advocacy Innovation Grants
The Malaria Advocacy Innovation Grants were first launched in May 2007. The Grants aim to boost advocacy efforts to improve Africa-to-Africa accountability for response to malaria suffering on the continent as well inspire African civil society organisations and media to become “leaders” in the fight against malaria in Francophone and Anglophone African countries.
The Innovation Grants support ideas and partnerships that aim to reach new audiences in creative ways and tackle difficult issues such as equity, transparency and accountability in Africa. Audiences include decision makers at national or regional levels, politicians, media persons, ministries, international organizations or local leaders. These grants also aim to encourage the engagement of artists to amplify advocacy messages in African countries.
Seven projects are currently supported by the Grants.
For more info about M4M, contact Sarah Pickwick, Malaria Consortium Advocacy Officer at s.pickwick@malariaconsortium.org
