Jacob Williams elected co-chair of Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.— Jacob Williams, director of integrated vector management at RTI International, has been elected co-chair of the Roll Back Malaria Vector Control Working Group.

The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Vector Control Working Group advises the international and country-level partners of RBM on best practices to reach and maintain universal coverage with effective vector control interventions. It supports the World Health Organization (WHO) on policy and guidelines related to vector control, and ensures adoption of global guidelines and strategies by disease endemic countries.  

"This is a superb recognition of Jacob's long-standing and tireless efforts in the field of vector control and malaria," said Richard Reithinger, Ph.D., vice president of the Global Health division for the International Development Group at RTI. "It is a testament to RTI's role and commitment to prevent and control malaria globally, and ultimately yield its eradication."

The working group is a leading global platform for vector control donors, policy makers, implementing organizations, academic research institutions and advocacy groups. The group identifies important product development and operational or research gaps in vector control, and channels technical and programmatic information to stakeholders.

Williams is an expert in vector borne diseases control and environmental health with more than 22 years of experience across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. He evaluates and strengthens national health systems for cost-effective disease control. 

From December 2007 to September 2012, he managed the integrated vector management (IVM) project supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the President's Malaria Initiative. The project supported the development, promotion and evaluation of integrated use of effective vector control methods for malaria and other vector-borne diseases. He also serves as a technical lead on indoor residual spray programs. 

Prior to his work at RTI, Williams served within the WHO by supporting and leading malaria vector control policy, implementation and evaluation. He led WHO input on the vector control aspects of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and, in coordination with the United Nations Environment Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, elaborated global reporting mechanisms under the Convention. He has co-authored several WHO guidelines and manuals. 

Williams has served on several high-level global panels and committees on vector control.