- ConocoPhillips Equatorial Guinea has been awarded the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project of the Year, marking 20 years of unwavering commitment to the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project (BIMEP).
- The project addresses malaria morbidity and mortality affecting the population living and working on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea.
- The program employs data analytics and field research to guide interventions, emphasizing patience and community trust to achieve lasting health improvements.
Every evening on Bioko Island, the sound of laughter floats through the villages as children settle in for the night beneath cozy bed nets. They drift off to sleep protected from mosquito bites and the illness that once cast a shadow over the community.
Initiated more than 20 years ago, the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project (BIMEP) is a collaborative public-private partnership involving the government of Equatorial Guinea, ConocoPhillips and partners Chevron, SONAGAS and GEPetrol. BIMEP’s goal is to eliminate malaria from Bioko Island by implementing a range of comprehensive, evidence-based interventions. These efforts include indoor residual spraying, distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets, larval source management, clinical management and diagnosis of malaria, epidemiological surveillance, vector monitoring and community advocacy. Through this coordinated approach, BIMEP has significantly reduced the prevalence of malaria and improved the overall health and well-being of the island’s residents.
This pioneering public-private partnership has delivered measurable results, including a 75% reduction in malaria among children, a 78% reduction in mortality for children under 5, a 77% reduction in anemia among pregnant women and a staggering 97% drop in mosquito transmission rates. BIMEP has successfully eliminated two of the four main malaria-carrying mosquito species on Bioko Island.
In a recent celebration at Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, ConocoPhillips Equatorial Guinea was awarded the CSR Project of the Year, marking 20 years of unwavering commitment to the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project. Since its inception in 2004, BIMEP has exemplified what can be achieved when global energy leaders, government agencies and health experts unite.
Frederic Phipps, president, ConocoPhillips Equatorial Guinea, who accepted the award on behalf of the business unit, reflected on the collaborative journey: “This recognition is not just an honor for our team, but a testament to what can be accomplished when industry, government and project partners along with the community work hand in hand. Every child spared from malaria, every family who can rest a bit easier at night—those are the real victories.”
CSR Supervisor German Menendez works with a small staff of two colleagues to coordinate the business unit’s social investment projects. He and his team collaborate with MCD Global Health, the primary implementer, the Equatorial Guinea government and private partners — Chevron, Sonagas, GEPetrol — to finalize and approve the project budget, establish necessary contracts and oversee execution to ensure agreed terms and ConocoPhillips’ legal requirements were met.
“We also make it a priority to keep all key stakeholders and partners well-informed and actively engaged on our project plans, progress and the impact we are achieving,” he added.
Commercial and External Affairs Manager Monique Hutchinson said the BIMEP has been a cornerstone of the company’s non-operational activities in EG for more than 20 years.
“The achievements that have been made over that time, which include not only the reduction of malaria prevalence, but the elimination of two major mosquito species and the data that continues to be collected, is nothing short of incredible,” she said. "I could not be prouder of my CSR team and the work they do with MCD and our partners, supported by the EG Government Affairs team, to make the project a success. I have no doubt we will continue to see the BIMEP deliver great things in the future.”
Recognizing the significant health benefits, Bioko Island residents, including many company employees who live in the effected community, actively engage with the program. Building trust and commitment in the community are essential elements for its success.
Interventions by MCD Global Health include:
- Indoor residual spraying applies insecticides to the walls and ceilings inside homes to kill mosquitoes that carry malaria.
- Larval source management involves finding and treating places where mosquitoes lay their eggs, like standing water, to stop new mosquitoes from growing.
- Epidemiological surveillance is the process of keeping track of malaria cases in the community to spot outbreaks quickly.
- Vector monitoring means regularly checking the types and numbers of mosquitoes in an area to understand how the disease spreads and decide which control methods work best.
“Today, most people on the island don’t see malaria as a deadly disease because of the work the project has done to reduce malaria related illness and death,” Menendez said.
As the community responds to the implemented interventions, the project has been in constant adaptation.
“Without the community’s acceptance,” Menedez said, “the success that we are having today would not be possible. For example, when we started the program in 2004, our primary malaria prevention intervention was the distribution of long-lasting insecticide nets complemented by the indoor residual spraying in high malaria transmission areas. However, after learning that most people prefer the indoor residual spraying over the long-lasting insecticide nets, we had to shift the use of these two interventions to improve effectiveness and impact.”
Since 2005, the project has published more than 85 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals highlighting the success and challenges of malaria control and elimination efforts. (See sidebar for links to 2025 articles)
From its origin, BIMEP has exemplified the strength of partnerships.
“We have not only sponsored this project but championed it,” said Managing Counsel Fernando Avila. “Combining our resources and expertise, the project partners have changed the attitude and behaviors of the people on the island, enhancing their focus on protection, safety and quality of life.”
Lead Counsel Samuel Hughes highlighted the importance of sustained commitment: “A project like BIMEP requires patience and resilience. The impact is not immediate; it grows year after year as trust builds and communities become empowered. The real change is reflected in the healthier futures we’re helping to create.”
The CSR Project of the Year honor adds to BIMEP’s global accolades, including the 2019 P3 Impact Award from the U.S. Department of State and Concordia. BIMEP was the sixth public-private partnership to win the annual award, and the first to also be selected by the audience for the Audience Choice Award.
For all collaborators, these awards mark significant milestones; however, the enduring legacy resides in the transformed lives and the model BIMEP provides for similar initiatives across Africa. Beginning next year, private entities will contribute $22 million toward project activities on Bioko Island from 2026 to 2030. The state will commit $52.3 million and has plans to expand the project nationwide.
As another evening falls over Bioko Island, the quiet comfort of children sleeping safely under their bed nets stands as a living testament to the progress achieved through the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project. Their peaceful rest is more than just the absence of disease — it is the gentle promise of a healthier future, made possible by an unwavering commitment to community, partnership and hope.