Zero Malaria Next Play Mobilizes African Youth
A new advocacy campaign uses sport and digital storytelling to rally young people across Africa against malaria ahead of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Africa
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Speak Up Africa and partners launched Zero Malaria Next Play, a campaign that combines digital advocacy with community engagement to mobilize African youth against malaria. The effort is timed around Senegal's hosting of the Youth Olympic Games and features social media cards inspired by Olympic sports.
Why it matters
Africa accounts for 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths worldwide, so the region carries the largest share of the disease's burden. The campaign aims to build sustained political and financial support for malaria elimination by bringing advocacy closer to young people.
Africa accounts for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of global malaria deaths, a share the campaign cites as the basis for its focus. The stub does not report measured campaign reach or any target for case reduction.
The players
Speak Up Africa
Speak Up Africa is a civil society organization that has worked for 15 years to put African voices into the continent's development agenda.
RBM Partnership to End Malaria
The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is a global coalition that coordinates efforts to reduce and eliminate malaria worldwide.
The Global Fund Advocates Network
The Global Fund Advocates Network is a group of advocates that supports the Global Fund's work to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
The details
The campaign was produced by Speak Up Africa with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, The Global Fund Advocates Network, Target Malaria and I AM Foundation. It is available in English and French and launched in July 2026 during the FIFA World Cup, with a storytelling workshop for content creators in Dakar on 11 November and a 3×3 basketball tournament in Guédiawaye on 14 November.
Timeline
July 2026: Zero Malaria Next Play launches during the FIFA World Cup.
11 November 2026: Storytelling workshop for content creators held in Dakar.
14 November 2026: 3×3 basketball tournament held in Guédiawaye.
2027: African Cup of Nations held in East Africa, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Health Landscape
The campaign extends the RBM Partnership to End Malaria's coordination of global malaria elimination into a youth-focused advocacy push. It targets a region that accounts for 94% of cases, placing the effort within the wider fight against the disease.
Travelers heading to Dakar or Guédiawaye during the November 2026 events may find the storytelling workshop and basketball tournament scheduled in those cities. Anyone planning travel to East Africa for the 2027 African Cup of Nations should book early, as tournament-season demand is likely.
The takeaway
Sport and digital storytelling are being used to bring malaria advocacy to young people, a shift from purely clinical messaging. Readers who want to follow the campaign can watch for its continuation through the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
What happens next
The African Cup of Nations will be held in East Africa in 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and the Next Play movement is set to continue through that tournament.
Further reading
Explore more on Africa travel destinations for context on the region hosting this campaign.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Africa.
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