Research on Vectors, Environment and Society
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Annual Report 2015 Research on Vectors, Environment and Society TDR/VES/16.1 Copyright © World Health Organization on behalf of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases 2016 All rights reserved. The use of content from this information product for all non‐commercial education, training and information purposes is encouraged, including translation, quotation and reproduction, in any medium, but the content must not be changed and full acknowledgement of the source must be clearly stated. A copy of any resulting product with such content should be sent to TDR, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. TDR is a World Health Organization (WHO) executed UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. The use of any information or content whatsoever from it for publicity or advertising, or for any commercial or income‐generating purpose, is strictly prohibited. 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WHO, including TDR, and the authors of this information product make no warranties or representations regarding the content, presentation, appearance, completeness or accuracy in any medium and shall not be held liable for any damages whatsoever as a result of its use or application. WHO, including TDR, reserves the right to make updates and changes without notice and accepts no liability for any errors or omissions in this regard. Any alteration to the original content brought about by display or access through different media is not the responsibility of WHO, including TDR, or the authors. WHO, including TDR, and the authors accept no responsibility whatsoever for any inaccurate advice or information that is provided by sources reached via linkages or references to this information product. VES Annual Report 2015 Page | 3 Table of contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 2. Overall objectives and expected results .......................................................................... 5 3. Key achievements ........................................................................................................... 6 4. Progress in 2015 and planned activities for 2016 ............................................................ 7 5. Workstream: social and community dynamics .............................................................. 13 Expected result 1.3.1: Evidence for improved community access to health interventions in Africa ............................................................................................................................................... 13 Expected Result 1.3.2: Evidence to strengthen vector‐borne disease control in dengue and Chagas disease control through innovative ecosystem management and community‐ directed interventions in Latin America .......................................................................................... 14 Expected Result 1.3.4: Improved urban vector control methodologies for dengue prevention and control in three countries of Latin America and the Caribbean ............................. 15 Expected Result 1.3.5: Evidence on the utility of social entrepreneurship for the prevention and control of infectious diseases of poverty ............................................................... 16 6. Workstream on environmental changes ....................................................................... 17 Expected Result 1.3.3: Evidence on the effects of climate and environmental changes on vectors and vector‐borne diseases; decision‐support processes and tools for health impact assessment .......................................................................................................................... 17 7. Workstream on emerging challenges ............................................................................ 23 Expected Result 1.3.6: Assessment of insecticide resistance mechanisms in malaria vectors and their impact on control failure in Africa, Asia and Latin America. ............................... 23 8. Workstream on gender equity ...................................................................................... 27 Strategic Development Funds SDFV1. Improving the careers of women research scientists in infectious diseases of poverty (TDR‐wide activity, 2014‐2015). .................................................. 27 Strategic Development Funds SDFV6. Development of a training course for capacity building on gender‐based analysis in vector‐borne disease research using an innovative global classroom approach ............................................................................................................. 30 9. Proposed new activities and expected results for 2016‐2017 and forward ................... 31 Environmental change and vector‐borne diseases ......................................................................... 31 Emerging challenges in the prevention and control of vector‐borne diseases ............................... 31 Community and social dynamics ..................................................................................................... 31 Gender equity and vector‐borne diseases ....................................................................................... 32 10. 2014‐15 financial implementation ................................................................................ 33 11. 2016‐17 revised planned costs ...................................................................................... 34 12. TDR funding in 2015 ..................................................................................................... 36 Annex 1 ........................................................................................................................... 37 Addressing comments and suggestions from first SWG (February 2015) ....................................... 37 Comments and discussion from second SWG (October 2015) ........................................................ 38 4 | Page VES Annual Report 2015 1. Introduction The Vectors, Environment and Society (VES) Unit was created within TDR in 2011 to specifically address cross‐cutting issues across diseases and sectors focusing on vector‐borne diseases and vector control interventions at the interface of the natural and human environment. The unit develops and evaluates innovative and improved vector control strategies in the context of climate and environmental change, and explores optimal ways to engage with different types of communities to scale up tools and strategies for the prevention of major vector‐borne and other poverty‐related diseases (Figure 1). This includes vector ecology and biology, vector control technologies, community‐based interventions, as well as environmental and climate change. Figure 1. Results chain for research on vectors, environment and society. VES objectives and activities were re‐organized in 2014, in part to address the new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that began 1 January, 2016. The VES structure reflects the change from the former Millennium Development Goals of specific diseases to the new SDGs where health is an integral dimension across the goals. The unit takes into account the multi‐faceted dynamics of economic, social and environmental determinants of health. Consequently, research is not restricted to vector control or community participation or preventive chemotherapy, but developed more holistically in the context of diseases transmitted by vectors. VES expected results are organized into four main workstreams where each stream has strong links with the others and the projects are interdependent (Figure 2). These streams were developed following JCB, STAC and scientific review committees recommendations, after wide consultation with WHO partners such as Global Malaria Programme, Neglected Tropical Diseases Department, Public Health and VES Annual Report 2015 Page | 5 Environment and the Regional offices in the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Additional input came from a TDR Forum with stakeholders from public and private, national and international institutions, and discussions with WHO and external partners, experts, stakeholders, funders and country representatives. Figure 2. Main workstreams of the VES activities This report covers the VES activities and achievements during 2014‐2015 and the proposals for the next 2016‐2017 biennium. Within each workstream, the expected results, funding and progress