The initiative is a malaria vector surveillance and research programme implemented across malaria-endemic areas of Zimbabwe through Africa University. It focuses on understanding how environmental and climatic changes may influence malaria transmission dynamics by monitoring mosquito species composition, distribution, breeding habitats, host-seeking and feeding behaviours, insecticide susceptibility, and malaria parasite infection. As malaria is a climate-sensitive infectious disease, the programme seeks to generate evidence on how changing temperature, rainfall patterns, and other ecological factors may affect mosquito populations, vector behaviour, and the geographic and seasonal patterns of malaria transmission. The initiative uses integrated field and laboratory approaches, including mosquito collection, morphological and molecular species identification, PCR-based analyses, insecticide resistance testing, and parasite detection. By generating locally relevant evidence on malaria vectors and their changing ecological and epidemiological patterns, the programme aims to support climate-informed malaria surveillance, prevention, and vector control strategies. It also contributes to strengthening local research capacity and collaboration among academic, public health, and malaria control stakeholders to improve preparedness and response to climate-sensitive disease threats across Zimbabwe.
The initiative is currently at an active research and implementation stage, with ongoing malaria vector surveillance across malaria-endemic areas of Zimbabwe. Through Africa University, the programme has established and strengthened field and laboratory-based surveillance activities, generating valuable data on mosquito species composition, distribution, breeding habitats, host-seeking behaviour, insecticide susceptibility, and malaria parasite infection. The initiative has contributed to strengthening local research capacity through hands-on training and experience in mosquito collection, morphological and molecular species identification, PCR, DNA extraction, insecticide resistance testing, and parasite detection. It has also supported collaboration between researchers, academic institutions, and public health and malaria control stakeholders. Findings have identified important malaria vector species and provided evidence on their ecological distribution, behaviour, and potential role in malaria transmission. These findings are contributing to a better understanding of changing malaria transmission patterns and the potential influence of environmental and climatic factors. The evidence generated is intended to inform climate-sensitive malaria surveillance, targeted vector control, outbreak preparedness, and future research, while strengthening Zimbabwe’s capacity to respond to climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
Project information correct as of September 2026