Implementation science
Implementation science is key to transforming health innovations into lasting impact. It examines how interventions function in real-world settings, identifying barriers, testing delivery strategies and refining approaches for greater effectiveness. By generating practical evidence, this research supports the scale-up of proven solutions, strengthens health systems and ensures sustainable disease prevention and control. In the context of global health, implementation science helps bridge the gap between knowledge and action — ensuring that life-saving interventions reach the people who need them most, in the most effective and efficient ways possible.
Our approach is rooted in practical questions that emerge from real-world implementation, creating a continuous cycle of improvement:
From proof of concept to scale
Before health interventions can be adopted, they first need to be tested to determine how feasible, acceptable and cost-effective they are in a given context. Pilot studies help to confirm proof of concept and build the evidence needed for scale-up. We use implementation science to understand what works, where and why, ensuring effective approaches can be adapted and replicated across diverse health systems and settings.
In practice: In Nigeria, we partnered with the government to pilot the delivery of vitamin A supplementation to children using seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) as a platform. Following positive results, we are now assessing the feasibility and acceptability of co-delivery at scale and this evidence will support decision-makers on if this approach could be integrated more widely, and how.
Explore how Malaria Consortium scales proven health interventions.
SMC research
As the largest implementer of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), Malaria Consortium is uniquely positioned to generate evidence that improves programme quality and informs national and global decision-making. Working in partnership with national malaria programmes, academic institutions and local communities, the evidence we generate helps us and our partners enhance delivery, measure impact and shape the future of SMC.
Much of this research focuses on identifying and addressing gaps in SMC delivery — from strategies to improve access for marginalised communities to exploring how integration with other health interventions affects coverage and quality. Often, our research in this area involves developing and testing adaptations to the standard SMC delivery model, or secondary analyses of data collected through routine monitoring and evaluation activities.
Learn how data, digital tools and partnerships are strengthening seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaigns.
Innovating for better health outcomes
Innovation is integral to enhancing how health services are delivered more effectively and efficiently, whether through new tools, technologies, delivery models or ways of working. As an implementer of large-scale health programmes, we ensure our programmes incorporate our latest research findings. By partnering closely with ministries of health and national malaria programmes throughout the research process, we ensure our findings can also be rapidly translated into policy changes and improved practices that save lives.
In practice: Our research has been instrumental in demonstrating that seasonal malaria chemoprevention can be effective beyond the Sahel region, conducting rigorous implementation studies in Mozambique and Uganda (2020−2021) that generated key evidence. In 2022 the World Health Organization published updated malaria guidelines thar supported the removal of geographical restrictions on SMC implementation. These new guidelines recognise that countries in East and southern Africa with highly seasonal malaria transmission could also benefit from this life-saving intervention.
Chemoprevention
Chemoprevention involves the use of drugs to prevent the occurrence of illness. For malaria, we focus on chemoprevention strategies most appropriate for the settings in the countries where we work. These strategies include: seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) — intermittently administering antimalarials to children during the peak malaria transmission season; perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC) — administering antimalarials to children at the highest risk of malaria at specific ages throughout the year; and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp). Other diseases can also sometimes be prevented through mass drug administration (MDA), which is the administration of drugs to entire populations.
See how we’re delivering multiple chemoprevention interventions to protect children, pregnant women and at-risk communities.
