Allan Were is MSH’s Senior Principal Technical Advisor and Cluster Lead for Vector Borne Diseases. In this role, he leads the design and development of vector-borne diseases-related strategies, materials, and tools, working with colleagues, projects, and country programs. He brings 22 years of experience in vector control management, private sector health, capacity building, technical assistance, marketing, and branding.

Prior to joining MSH, Were was Abt Associates’ Director of Vector Control for the USAID-funded PMI VectorLink Project, where led the planning and implementation of vector control activities in 27 countries.

Among other notable achievements, Were developed a capacity strengthening package for national and regional indoor residual spraying (IRS) program managers, conducted capacity building workshops for national malaria control programs in 16 countries, and developed a comprehensive curriculum that improved the quality of training for all levels of IRS workers, as well as tools and job aids that have enhanced the quality of planning, implementation, and monitoring of vector control activities. Under the Zika AIRS Project, Were led vector control activities in 10 Latin America and Caribbean countries. As chief of party for the USAID NetMark Project in Uganda, Were led a team that established a commercial market for insecticide-treated nets.

Were is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) expert committee on vector control application equipment and is a co-lead of the Enhancing Impact of Core Interventions work stream of the WHO Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Vector Control Working Group. 

Were earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Uganda’s Makerere University and holds a Master’s in Public Health Leadership from Uganda Christian University.