Three More Years: EBC's Signed Commitment to Beat Malaria

EBC Financial Group has signed a three-year partnership with United to Beat Malaria, marking the most significant global health commitment in the company's history. As part of the expanded collaboration, EBC has stepped up as a Gold Sponsor of the Move Against Malaria 5K 2026, the campaign's flagship virtual run now in its fifth year. This marks the second consecutive year the broker has supported the initiative.

The partnership deepens every dimension of EBC's engagement with the campaign, from direct financial support for frontline interventions to cross-border employee mobilisation and high-level policy advocacy. It reflects a conviction, embedded in EBC's corporate social responsibility strategy, that the private sector has both the reach and the responsibility to help drive meaningful change in global health.

Scale of the Challenge

According to the World Health Organisation's World Malaria Report 2025, an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths were recorded in 2024 alone – roughly nine million more cases than in 2023. The WHO African Region continues to carry the heaviest burden, accounting for 95% of global malaria deaths, with children under five making up three-quarters of all fatalities on the continent. Nearly every minute, a child dies before their fifth birthday from a disease that is both preventable and treatable.

EBC's support has already helped protect more than 150,000 people from contracting malaria. Bed nets have enabled families to sleep without worry and celebrate their children's birthdays past the age of five. Healthcare practitioners have received better equipment, including diagnostic tests and lifesaving treatments delivered on time.

Advocacy and Employee Engagement

The partnership was shaped not only by boardroom commitments but by the actions of EBC employees. From 2025 onwards, teams across the company have participated in the Move Against Malaria 5K. Employees in Mongolia completed the distance on horseback across open grasslands; in Africa, they ran through the bush; and teams in Latin America organised relay-style races to reach their milestones.

In a landmark joint event held by United to Beat Malaria and its sister campaign Shot@Life, EBC sent a delegation to the 2026 National Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. The gathering brought together policymakers, scientists, and private-sector leaders with champions from 38 states. The event culminated in a congressional meeting on Capitol Hill where champions reached over 160 bipartisan offices, covering almost one-third of Congress in one day. Champions thanked members for strong funding for global health passed in the FY26 budget hearing and urged offices to sign resolutions affirming the US commitment to keeping children safe from preventable diseases such as malaria and polio.

Broader Impact and Future Outlook

The fifth annual Move Against Malaria 5K begins on World Malaria Day, 25 April 2026. As a Gold Sponsor, EBC is mobilising employees across its offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, and emerging markets to take part. Every dollar raised supports the delivery of insecticide-treated bed nets, rapid diagnostic testing, lifesaving treatment, and malaria vaccines.

Global efforts have prevented an estimated 2.3 billion malaria cases and 14 million deaths since 2000, including the 1 million recorded lives saved in 2024 alone. WHO has certified 47 countries and one territory as malaria-free, while vaccines have been introduced in 24 countries. EBC's three-year partnership – aligned with its broader ESG strategy – is designed to build on that momentum through continued sponsorship, employee-led fundraising, executive participation in policy advocacy, and deeper collaboration with UN-affiliated organisations.