Dr. Desmond Chavasse is a globally recognized public health expert and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the control of vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria, and broader child survival interventions. His work spans sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, and other malaria-endemic regions, where he has played a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale health programmes.
Dr. Chavasse has led national malaria control programmes across more than 20 countries and contributed to multi-country research that informed global malaria policy and practice. His leadership has supported the scale-up of life-saving interventions, including the distribution of over 400 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets worldwide.
He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Evidence Officer at Population Services International (PSI), based in Nairobi, where he provided global leadership in strategy, research, and data-driven programme performance. In this role, he oversaw major portfolios including malaria, sanitation, digital health, and global research across more than 50 country programmes, supervising large multidisciplinary teams and strengthening the use of data to influence health policy and improve programme outcomes.
During his tenure at PSI, Dr. Chavasse led the implementation of the largest USAID-funded malaria project, reaching millions of beneficiaries across 20 countries. He also guided the organisation’s global strategic planning and performance monitoring systems, ensuring improved accountability and impact through evidence-based decision-making.
Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President for Malaria Control and Child Survival, directing programmes across 32 countries, and as Country Director in Malawi, where he led large-scale health initiatives and managed complex donor-funded portfolios. His foundational work in malaria control includes pioneering insecticide-treated net programmes, which evolved into national-scale interventions.
Dr. Chavasse began his career in academia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where he conducted epidemiological and entomological research, taught at postgraduate level, and contributed to global knowledge on vector control. He has authored and edited key publications on malaria control, including practical guidance for programme implementation, and his research has been published in leading international journals.
Beyond his programmatic and research work, Dr. Chavasse has contributed to global health governance through advisory roles with major international bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Fund, and Roll Back Malaria partnerships. He currently works as an independent global health consultant, providing strategic planning, advisory, and coaching services to international organizations.
Dr. Chavasse holds a PhD in Tropical Medicine from the University of Liverpool and a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the University of Nottingham.