The RSC was notified on 3rd July 2017 that the RAI2E Funding Request, a consolidated regional malaria grant of 242m USD for the 2018-2020 period, was endorsed by the Global Fund Secretariat for grant-making, following a successful TRP review process.

This grant will constitute the second phase for the current RAI, with the adoption of the regional malaria elimination goal at the core of the proposal. The initiative has been renamed “RAI2-Elimination” to reflect the initiative’s alignment with the accelerated malaria elimination goal adopted by the 5 Mekong countries. The accelerated elimination of P. Falciparum malaria (targeted for 2025) has been recognized as the best strategy against drug resistance in the region.

Quoted in aidspan.org, Izaskun Gaviria, the Global Fund’s senior fund portfolio manager for the RAI, said: “With the RAI investment bolstering national funding and the commitment of partners from all sectors, elimination is possible. The threat of drug resistance going global means we absolutely must finish the job. Failing to do so would squander the opportunity in the Mekong and be a huge setback for health security globally.”