ESPEN Steering Committee Endorses a New Mandate Through 2030

10 Oct 2024

The ESPEN Steering Committee, established by the WHO/AFRO Regional Director, acts as a strategic advisory body that guides ESPEN’s work, ensuring alignment with regional control and elimination goals for PC-NTDs. Over the years, the committee has been pivotal in shaping ESPEN’s priorities and providing recommendations to the Regional Director.

At its annual meeting held from 9th to 10th October the Steering Committee’s objectives were to realign the project’s strategic direction and governance at a time when ESPEN’s mission to support WHO AFRO’s efforts against NTDs is more urgent than ever. A key outcome of this meeting was the endorsement of ESPEN’s third mandate, extending its work through 2030 to align with the ambitious goals of the 2021-2030 NTD Roadmap.

The primary objectives of the meeting were to assess ESPEN's progress, review its strategic future, and make critical decisions on priority activities, budget allocations, and resource mobilization mechanisms. The Steering Committee reviewed ESPEN’s achievements from 2021 to 2023 and provided guidance on ESPEN continuing mandate and strategic priorities beyond 2025, to achieve NTD Elimination Goals in the African Region.

Applauding ESPEN’s Central Role and Future Mandate

As the global health landscape evolves, so must the role of ESPEN. The project has made significant progress in recent years, underscoring its essential role in the fight against NTDs in the African region. However, emerging challenges and cross-cutting health issues demand that ESPEN’s mandate expand to meet new needs. This extraordinary meeting provided a unique opportunity to realign ESPEN’s strategy, allowing for a more holistic approach that integrates health systems strengthening while continuing to drive progress toward the 2030 NTD Roadmap targets.

Reflecting on this milestone, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO AFRO Regional Director, emphasized the importance of sustained support for ESPEN:

"Looking back on my ten-year tenure, one of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing the transformation of our NTD efforts, moving from a focus on control to an ambition of elimination. As a committee, we must ensure ESPEN is adequately resourced to deliver the coordination and technical support needed to achieve our regional elimination goals for neglected tropical diseases. ESPEN has proven to be a lean and effective mechanism, but we rely on this committee to advocate with our partners for the essential support required to continue this work. We must ensure that we do not slow down the progress we have worked so hard to achieve."

Dr Moeti’s call to action underscored the urgency of ensuring that ESPEN has the resources it needs to remain an agile, effective, and impactful team. While ESPEN has demonstrated its ability to operate efficiently, this moment demands securing the additional capacity required to continue driving results and delivering the technical support that countries need.

Looking Ahead: The Path to 2030

The endorsement of ESPEN’s third mandate to 2030 signifies a new chapter in the project’s journey. With renewed strategic direction and commitments, ESPEN is poised to continue driving toward the ambitious goals of the 2021-2030 NTD Roadmap. The outcomes of this meeting will set the stage for ESPEN’s future success, depending on collective efforts to secure the necessary resources, adapt to evolving global health needs, and sustain the progress achieved thus far.