Evaluation of the MSF Intersectional Response to the Diphtheria Outbreak in West Africa

In 2023, a major diphtheria outbreak hit West Africa, with Nigeria being the most affected country. In response, MSF launched interventions in six countries, managing over 22 000 suspected cases, primarily in Nigeria, Guinea, and Niger. As cases surged, MSF established an intersectional coordination platform in August 2023 to streamline its response. 

To capitalize on this experience and identify lessons for future outbreak responses, MSF, through its Stockholm Evaluation Unit, decided to assess three key interventions: the MSF Operational Centre West and Central Africa (WaCA) intervention in Kano, Nigeria; the MSF Operational Centre Paris (OCP) intervention in Borno, Nigeria; and the MSF Operational Centre Brussels (OCB) intervention in Siguiri, Guinea.