The African continent bears the heaviest burden of malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses in the world, and as such has embraced the leadership role in pioneering the solutions of tomorrow. The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), as mandated by the African Union Heads of States, has been championing policy decision-making, advocacy, social acceptance and regulatory capacity building for science, technology and innovation across the continent – from advancing integrated vector management strategies to initiating horizon scanning for genetic-based vector control tools.
It is in this spirit of continental leadership and foresight that we welcome Unitaid’s “Genetically modified mosquitoes (GMM) technology and access landscape” report, a timely resource to inform Africa’s efforts to combat vector-borne diseases in an innovative, evidence-driven way. African ownership, regional coordination, and scientific leadership are paramount as we explore novel technologies like GMMs. Our Union’s high-level bodies have called for proactive engagement with these tools. In 2018, the African Union’s High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies identified gene drive mosquitoes as a promising option for malaria control as part of integrated vector management, a recommendation later endorsed by African Ministers and the AU Executive Council. In line with these directives, AUDA-NEPAD, together with regional partners such as the West African Health Organization has established platforms and frameworks to ensure readiness for GMM deployment. The West Africa Integrated Vector Management programme, for example, brings together health, biosafety and environment regulators, ethics committees, and malaria control experts from multiple countries in a One Health, multi-sectoral regional governance approach. Through such initiatives, we are addressing regulatory and technical challenges ahead of time so that African countries can fully leverage the benefits of GMMs when they become available.
This proactive work – from developing harmonized guidelines on biosafety, ethics, and risk assessment to strengthening institutional capacities – underscores Africa’s commitment to regulatory readiness and shared responsibility in the age of genetic tools. We also recognize the vital role of our global partners in catalysing health innovations. In particular, Unitaid has been instrumental in driving equitable innovation pathways and “access-oriented” initiatives. Unitaid’s model – identifying groundbreaking health solutions and overcoming market barriers to reach those who need them most – has unlocked over 100 life-saving health products for low- and middleincome countries. By commissioning this GMM technology landscape, Unitaid continues to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that new vector control tools like GMMs are developed and introduced with equity and access in mind. Since 2016, Unitaid has invested significantly in accelerating promising vector control innovations and mapping out the landscape of transformative solutions.
This report reflects that focus: it is not just a survey of GMM technologies, but a roadmap for how they can be applied in the real world –safely, effectively, responsibly, affordably and sustainably – to serve public health goals.
As we look to the future of GMMs in Africa, we are guided by the principles of safety, inclusion, and anticipatory governance. Ensuring these technologies are safe and accepted requires engaging our communities at every step. AUDA-NEPAD firmly believes that community engagement and transparency are nonnegotiable. We have learned that involving local stakeholders from the outset – listening to communities, addressing their concerns, and respecting indigenous knowledge – builds the trust and social license needed to make GMM interventions effective and sustainable. We are equally committed to policy coherence: aligning health, environmental, and agricultural policies across our Union so that novel tools complement existing interventions and regulatory frameworks work in harmony. Our collaborative approach with Member States and Regional Economic Communities emphasizes consultation and consensus.
Recognizing that mosquitoes do not respect borders, our response must be coordinated regionally and continentally. By investing in anticipatory governance – from early-stage risk assessments and ethical guidelines to legal preparedness – Africa is proactively shaping a future where GMM technologies can be safely and inclusively integrated into public health strategies. These efforts aim to ensure that GMMs, as they advance from research to field use, align with our public health priorities and ethical values every step of the way. This landscape report comes at a pivotal moment. It offers a comprehensive view of the GMM field and highlights pathways to translate innovation into impact. African governments, funders, and research partners are encouraged to use this document as a platform for collaborative investment underscored by African-led action. Africa must leverage the insights here to drive coordinated efforts – from funding strategic research and development, to bolstering regulatory infrastructure, to preparing pilot deployments guided by evidence and community consent. By acting together, we can accelerate the development of these tools and ensure that Africa not only benefits from them but also guides their responsible use.
Indeed, as Africa collectively advances in the battle against vector-borne diseases, broad collaboration among public and private stakeholders is a crucial step forward. The promise of GMMs will only be realized through partnership: between nations, between researchers and communities, and between Africa and its global allies. This foreword reinforces AUDA-NEPAD’s commitment to inclusive governance, development, and global partnership through evidence-based policymaking. The journey towards deploying genetically modified mosquitoes is emblematic of Africa’s broader journey in science and innovation – one where we assert ownership of our solutions, work in unity, and engage the world on our own terms. With vision and vigilance, we will ensure that these novel vector control tools are used to save lives and secure the health of our people. Together, let us translate innovation into hope – and hope into lasting impact for Africa and beyond.
