The Against Malaria Foundation is one of the most effective global health charities in the world, and the single most common donation target for EA Survey respondents (2018 and 2019). What makes this organization so special? How do they approach their work, and what challenges do they face? Founder and CEO Rob Mather answers these questions.
Rob Mather is the founder and CEO of The Against Malaria Foundation. AMF has now raised more than $190 million, funding 86 million anti-mosquito bed nets protecting 155 million people in 35 countries, mainly in Africa.
AMF uses technology, rigorous processes and clear accountability to ensure aid is delivered effectively. For seven of the past eight years, AMF has been a top-ranked charity of the independent charity evaluators GiveWell and The Life You Can Save.
Yet malaria is totally preventable and treatable. Nobody need die. Prevention is better than treatment.
Given the scale of this problem, malaria is clearly a humanitarian issue.
Malaria is also an economic issue. Malaria is the single greatest drag on the economy of Africa. Every $1m spent fighting malaria efficiently improves the GDP – the wealth – of the continent of Africa by $12m. Fighting malaria is a very good investment.
As well as the approximately 400,000 people that die from malaria each year, more than 200 million fall sick with malaria. And that means a parent has to stay home with a sick child, teachers cannot teach, farmers cannot farm, drivers cannot drive, people cannot function. It fundamentally affects people working and productivity in Africa.
Every $1m we spend fighting malaria efficiently we improve the GDP – the wealth – of the continent of Africa by $12m.
If we want to help Africa out of the situation we all find it in beating malaria is very high up, if not top of, the list.
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