Target Malaria
Target Malaria is an international not-for-profit research consortium working to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission.
Emerging Ag has worked with Target Malaria to support the project through the development of its communication and engagement strategies and offer expert advice to its teams globally. Engaged day to day in the project’s activities, Emerging Ag’s services range from strategy development and training to content creation and messaging support.
Working with Target Malaria allows Emerging to bring to bear its expertise in the field of biotechnology, development and innovation, through a full suite of services delivered in both French and English to the Target Malaria teams.
Some examples of the work Emerging Ag has facilitated and delivered for Target Malaria include:
Supporting stakeholder engagement best practice development
For the past ten years, Emerging has worked with Target Malaria to develop their stakeholder engagement practice and help document and share their learnings. In 2022, the Target Malaria Mali team concluded its work, ending a decade-long participation in the project. Emerging supported the team’s exit process and worked with the project to prepare a publication highlighting lessons learned from the Mali team’s experience. The peer-reviewed paper, published in January 2024, will hopefully contribute to informing future stakeholder engagement for genetic tools for vector control in Africa.
An expert workshop on community agreement for gene drive research in Africa
Emerging worked to help organise and facilitate an online workshop co-hosted by Target Malaria, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA). The workshop brought together a number of leading public health experts and researchers with the aim of informing Target Malaria’s approach to seeking community agreement for research activities and building a community of practice with experience on issues related to stakeholder consent and gene drives for vector control. Emerging also facilitated the drafting and publication of the outcomes of the workshop as a peer-reviewed paper, published in Gates Open Research.
A customised visual identity
Emerging developed a “digital wax” design to be used as a visual identity for Target Malaria’s campaigns and communication content.
Inspired by traditional wax print textiles, the pattern was designed to feature a variety of elements representing the consortium’s work to fight malaria. The final design was used to develop branded content including banners, vignettes and videos for the project’s World Malaria Day and World Mosquito Day campaigns, which received a combined total of over 70k impressions across Target Malaria’s X and LinkedIn channels.
A set of e-learning trainings on communications and stakeholder engagement
Emerging developed three interactive e-learning tools focused on explaining Target Malaria’s approach to communications and stakeholder engagement, and the project’s framework for seeking community agreement for its research activities. The trainings include a mix of videos, interactive exercises and additional media resources, developed on Imperial College London’s virtual learning environment (VLE) Blackboard. The new tools have allowed Target Malaria to deliver consistent training to its teams of over 200 experts based across Africa, North-America and Europe.
An animated series on the project’s stakeholder engagement approach and activities
Emerging led the creative and conceptual development of an animated series explaining Target Malaria’s stakeholder engagement approach and activities.
Developed in collaboration with Ryan Carter Images, the videos make use of visual storytelling to present these topics in a compelling and accessible manner.