Against Malaria Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Against Malaria Foundation is a United Kingdom-based charity that provides mosquito net
s to populations at high risk of malaria
, primarily in Africa. Since its founding in 2004, the foundation has raised $7 million and distributed 1.6 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). The average cost of nets to-date has been $4.36.
LLINs are distributed through partnerships with the International Red Cross, the Malaria Consortium
and others, with partners responsible for all costs of distribution. Distributions include malaria education for the local population and are documented through reports, photos and video. Post-distribution surveys are carried out 6, 18, 30 and 42 months after the initial distribution to assess net usage and conditions.
The Against Malaria Foundation has nine trustees and an advisory committee drawn from leading malaria experts around the world. The charity is registered in the United Kingdom and governed by the laws of England and Wales. It is also registered in the USA, Germany, Canada, Japan and other countries. Givewell
, an independent charity evaluator, has rated AMF as the world’s best malaria charity.
The World Swim Against Malaria was the brainchild of Rob Mather, a London-based strategy consultant. Mather had earlier organized a swim to raise money for a 2-year-old girl who was badly burned in a housefire. Held in December 2003, the “Swim for Terri” started as a three-person fundraiser and grew to include 10,000 swimmers in 73 countries.
The sequence for each distribution is as follows:
, Citigroup
, Speedo
, Microsoft
, Allen & Overy
, Attenda
, Vestergaard Frandsen, and Sumitomo Chemical
. Speedo also partnered with AMF’s precursor organization, World Swim Against Malaria, and continues to raise money for bednets through swimming events.
AMF’s principal distribution partners are Population Services International
, the Malaria Consortium
, Partners in Health
, the Red Cross, and World Vision
. Sixty-two organizations fundraise for bednets using AMF’s website or their own.
named AMF a silver medal organization, ranking it the third-best international charity and the best malaria-related charity in the world. The Life You Can Save, a website that advocates the charitable philosophies of Peter Singer
, recommends donating to AMF on the grounds that the charity focuses on the world’s poorest people and saves a human life for roughly $1,000. Giving What We Can, a fundraising organization dedicated to ending global poverty, named AMF as one of four charities that it “would most highly recommend.”
Mosquito net
A mosquito net offers protection against mosquitos, flies, and other insects, and thus against diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and various forms of encephalitis, including the West Nile virus, if used properly and especially if treated with an insecticide, which can double...
s to populations at high risk of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, primarily in Africa. Since its founding in 2004, the foundation has raised $7 million and distributed 1.6 million long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). The average cost of nets to-date has been $4.36.
LLINs are distributed through partnerships with the International Red Cross, the Malaria Consortium
Malaria Consortium
Malaria Consortium is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to controlling malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Asia...
and others, with partners responsible for all costs of distribution. Distributions include malaria education for the local population and are documented through reports, photos and video. Post-distribution surveys are carried out 6, 18, 30 and 42 months after the initial distribution to assess net usage and conditions.
The Against Malaria Foundation has nine trustees and an advisory committee drawn from leading malaria experts around the world. The charity is registered in the United Kingdom and governed by the laws of England and Wales. It is also registered in the USA, Germany, Canada, Japan and other countries. Givewell
Givewell
GiveWell is an American non-profit charity evaluator created in 2006 by two former finance industry workers, Holden Karnofsky and Elie Hassenfeld. GiveWell's goal is to use an evidence based approach by examining results empirically and avoiding anecdotes and appeals to stories. They investigate...
, an independent charity evaluator, has rated AMF as the world’s best malaria charity.
History
The Against Malaria Foundation was set up in August 2004 with the purpose of handling money raised through the World Swim Against Malaria, a global fundraising event scheduled for Dec. 3, 2005. More than 250,000 people participated in the swim, which raised $1.3 million to buy mosquito nets. The money was used to buy 270,000 nets, which were distributed to protect an estimated 540,000 people from the risk of mosquito-borne malaria infection.The World Swim Against Malaria was the brainchild of Rob Mather, a London-based strategy consultant. Mather had earlier organized a swim to raise money for a 2-year-old girl who was badly burned in a housefire. Held in December 2003, the “Swim for Terri” started as a three-person fundraiser and grew to include 10,000 swimmers in 73 countries.
Approach
One hundred percent of funds raised through the Against Malaria Foundation's website are used to purchase bednets, according to the foundation's founders. Distribution and education costs are covered by distribution partners. Administrative costs are covered by the charity's trustees and a small group of private donors. The foundation also benefits from in-kind contributions of services from lawyers, accountants, advertising agencies, professional translators, web technologists and others. In 2010, the Against Malaria Foundation took in £1.3 million and spent £1.6 million, with £1.4 million going directly to charitable activities.The sequence for each distribution is as follows:
- A distribution partner submits to AMF a proposal to distribute mosquito nets in a targeted high-risk area.
- AMF’s Malaria Advisory Group reviews the proposal with requests for further information if necessary. The Group approves, amends or rejects the proposal based on available funding and the needs of the target area.
- AMF and the distribution partner sign a contract laying out each parties’ obligations.
- AMF raises the funds for the nets and purchases them directly from the manufacturer, while the distribution partner covers all non-net costs. The nets constitute the majority of the distribution’s costs. In some cases, the partner will raise funds through AMF's website, in which case all funds raised are ring-fenced for the partner's proposed distribution. All details of each distribution are made available to the public on dedicated “distribution pages.”
- After sufficient funds have been raised, the distribution partner arranges the distribution logistics with the targeted community and pays for the nets to be shipped and stored nearby.
- The distribution partner distributes the nets in the targeted community, and offers education on proper usage of the nets as well as general malaria education. As per the agreement with AMF, the partner documents the distribution via reports, photo and video.
- The distribution partner files a post-distribution report with AMF.
- The partner carries out post-distribution surveys 6, 18, 30 and 42 months after the distribution to monitor net usage and conditions.
Partners and Supporters
Against Malaria Foundation is supported by more than 100 corporations. AMF’s principal partners are PwCPwC
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
, Citigroup
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, Speedo
Speedo
Speedo International Ltd. is a manufacturer and distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories. Founded in Australia in 1914, the industry leading company is now a subsidiary of Pentland Group Plc. Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wrist...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy
Allen & Overy is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom.A member of the UK's Magic Circle of leading law firms, Allen & Overy is widely considered to be one of the world's elite law firms, advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and...
, Attenda
Attenda
AttendaTypePrivately heldIndustryIT ServicesFounded1997Headquarters Staines, MiddlesexKey peopleMark Fowle , Tim Foxlow , Paul Howard , Paul Morris ProductsCritical Application Hosting...
, Vestergaard Frandsen, and Sumitomo Chemical
Sumitomo Chemical
Sumitomo Chemical is a Japanese company. It's a member of the Sumitomo group and is listed on the Nikkei 225. The company is one of Japan's major chemical companies and was founded in 1913.-Company Milestones:...
. Speedo also partnered with AMF’s precursor organization, World Swim Against Malaria, and continues to raise money for bednets through swimming events.
AMF’s principal distribution partners are Population Services International
Population Services International
Population Services International is a global health organization with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health...
, the Malaria Consortium
Malaria Consortium
Malaria Consortium is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to controlling malaria and other communicable diseases in Africa and Asia...
, Partners in Health
Partners In Health
Partners In Health is a Boston, Massachusetts-based non-profit health care organization dedicated to providing a "preferential option for the poor". It was founded in 1987 by Dr. Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack, and Dr...
, the Red Cross, and World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
. Sixty-two organizations fundraise for bednets using AMF’s website or their own.
Independent Reviews
The AMF has received positive reviews from several independent charity evaluators. GiveWellGivewell
GiveWell is an American non-profit charity evaluator created in 2006 by two former finance industry workers, Holden Karnofsky and Elie Hassenfeld. GiveWell's goal is to use an evidence based approach by examining results empirically and avoiding anecdotes and appeals to stories. They investigate...
named AMF a silver medal organization, ranking it the third-best international charity and the best malaria-related charity in the world. The Life You Can Save, a website that advocates the charitable philosophies of Peter Singer
Peter Singer
Peter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
, recommends donating to AMF on the grounds that the charity focuses on the world’s poorest people and saves a human life for roughly $1,000. Giving What We Can, a fundraising organization dedicated to ending global poverty, named AMF as one of four charities that it “would most highly recommend.”
External links
- Against Malaria Foundation
- http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ShowCharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1105319&SubsidiaryNumber=0/Against Malaria Foundation's Charity CommissionCharity CommissionThe Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
page] - World Swim Against Malaria
- The Life You Can Save Website for Peter Singer's book "The Life You Can Save"