2025 National NTD Programme Managers Meeting

Theme: "Innovating for Acceleration: Pathways to NTD Elimination"

Background

The 2025 NTD Programme Managers’ Meeting (PMM) is convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) through the Regional Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases Programme and the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN). This annual meeting serves as a key platform for national NTD programme managers, implementing partners, donors, and WHO experts to review progress, share best practices, and develop strategies to achieve the 2030 NTD Roadmap targets.

The 2025 NTD PM Meeting, to be held in Lomé, Togo, from 15 to 17 April 2025, comes at a critical time as the global funding landscape for NTDs is shifting, requiring increased coordination and strategic resource mobilization to sustain progress. The meeting will serve as a high-impact platform to reinforce WHO AFRO’s leadership in NTD elimination efforts, build stronger regional collaboration, and engage key stakeholders to accelerate progress despite current funding constraints.

Why This Meeting is Important?

The 2025 NTD PMM is particularly crucial due to:

• The need for stronger resource mobilization – The withdrawal of USAID funding from WHO has created urgent gaps that need to be addressed through new partnerships and sustainable funding models.
• Showcasing WHO’s leadership – With KFAED resuming its funding commitment, this meeting will provide an opportunity to highlight donor contributions, advocate for continued investment, and ensure transparency in program implementation.
• Technical strategy and coordination – As countries work towards the 2030 NTD targets, direct engagement with programme managers, technical experts, and donors is essential to ensure evidence-based decision-making and synchronized regional strategies.
• Strengthening regional collaboration – Addressing cross-border challenges such as disease surveillance, drug distribution, and health system integration requires in-person dialogue, knowledge sharing, and policy alignment.

With the theme “Innovating for Acceleration: Pathways to NTD Elimination,” the 2025 meeting will focus on innovative strategies and tools that can help drive progress despite financial constraints, ensuring that NTD programmes remain on track.

General Objective

To assess progress and identify opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and resource mobilization to accelerate the elimination of NTDs in Africa.

Specific Objectives

• Review and discuss country progress, challenges, and best practices in achieving NTD elimination goals.
• Strengthen collaboration between national NTD programmes, partners, and donors to improve strategic investments.
• Facilitate technical capacity building for NTD programme managers through expert-led sessions and hands-on training.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and digital tools to enhance programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Advocate for domestic financing and sustainable funding mechanisms to maintain and expand NTD interventions.

Expected Outcomes

• Strengthened commitment and strategic direction for NTD elimination efforts in the WHO Africa Region.
• Increased engagement with current and potential donors, leveraging the meeting as a resource mobilization platform.
• Enhanced technical capacity of NTD programme managers in programme planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Greater visibility and advocacy for integrating NTD interventions into national health budgets.