Who we are
The Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) is a public–private partnership established by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) in collaboration with Member States and global partners. ESPEN serves as the regional mechanism to coordinate, facilitate, and accelerate efforts to eliminate five neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that are amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC): lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, and trachoma.
Since its launch in 2016, ESPEN has evolved into a cornerstone of regional coordination, providing technical assistance, data-driven insights, and medicine donation management to help countries reach their elimination targets. Operating under the Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster at WHO/AFRO, ESPEN works through WHO Country Offices and national NTD programmes to deliver tailored support and promote country ownership.
ESPEN’s work is built on the principles of transparency, accountability, collaboration, and equity. By mobilizing political, technical, and financial resources, ESPEN empowers national programmes to strengthen their capacity, align their strategies with WHO targets, and integrate NTD interventions into national health systems.
ESPEN supports all 47 Member States of the WHO African Region and provides technical assistance to NTD programmes in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen). Its core team, based in Brazzaville, Congo, works closely with countries and partners to enhance surveillance, improve medicine forecasting and supply chains, expand laboratory capacity, and strengthen data systems that underpin NTD control and elimination.
Over the past decade, ESPEN has helped countries achieve major milestones—facilitating the donation and distribution of billions of treatment tablets, supporting elimination dossiers, and advancing validation of disease elimination in multiple Member States. It continues to serve as a regional platform for innovation, coordination, and data-driven decision-making, driving Africa closer to the goal of ending NTDs.
ESPEN's Mission
ESPEN’s mission is to accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases amenable to preventive chemotherapy (PC-NTDs) in Africa by 2030, through country-led, data-driven, and integrated public health interventions, while promoting innovation, equity, and partnerships that build sustainable and resilient health systems.
ESPEN works hand-in-hand with ministries of health, national NTD programmes, and partners to:
- Strengthen country leadership and technical capacity for implementing and sustaining elimination activities.
- Ensure equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and innovative tools through improved forecasting, coordination, and supply chain systems.
- Promote data-driven planning and monitoring, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms such as the ESPEN Portal, ESPEN Collect, and the IU Planner.
- Foster regional collaboration and partner alignment through joint planning, peer learning, and coordinated action.
- Advocate for the integration of NTD interventions into national health systems, ensuring sustainability within universal health coverage frameworks.
- Embed gender equity and social inclusion across all interventions, empowering women and marginalized groups through initiatives such as the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme.
By connecting national programmes, partners, and communities under a shared vision of an Africa free from neglected tropical diseases, ESPEN continues to serve as a model for collective action and a driver of innovation and accountability across the NTD landscape.