We embrace partnership working, both in the UK and overseas, to enable us to deliver high quality programmes and generate evidence to inform our programming strategies.

We believe that effective partnerships are based on the principles of shared values, transparency and equality, and welcome discussions with prospective partners on the value that we can bring to collaborative programmes.

Partnering with NGOs

Ending leprosy is a huge endeavour. Working in partnership with other NGOs allows us to enhance the impact of our interventions by combining expertise and resources with organisations whose values and vision overlap with ours. This is increasingly important as we seek to expand the coverage of leprosy prevention and care by integrating leprosy work into cross-NTD and disability work.

The strengths that we bring to collaborations and consortia include a strong project management team, extensive technical expertise in leprosy and disability programming, and a ten-country network of downstream NGO and civil society partners.

Research partnerships

Robust research studies enable us to develop the evidence base and access the funding we require to defeat leprosy and transform lives. We recognise that we cannot develop all the tools needed to achieve our vision on our own, so we develop partnerships with universities and research institutions, both in the UK and in leprosy-endemic countries.

As well as researching approaches that are leprosy-specific, we explore the effectiveness of working across other NTDs, mainstreaming leprosy within disability-focused approaches, and exploring the interactions between leprosy and other morbidities.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss prospective programme or research partnerships, please contact our Head of Programmes, Sian Arulanantham - siana@tlmew.org.uk.

Some of our current partnerships

University of Birmingham

We are partnering with the University of Birmingham to carry out research on leprosy ulcers. This research collaboration will study the factors that affect the healing of ulcers on the hands and feet and test a new method that may help ulcers to heal faster. The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, The Leprosy Mission Nepal, and The Leprosy Mission Trust India are also participating in this research study which will run until 2023.

Tearfund

In Myanmar, we are partnering with Tearfund, The Leprosy Mission Myanmar, and fifteen local churches to support people with leprosy and disabilities to live healthy and productive lives. Volunteers in participating churches work with people with leprosy and disabilities to provide services like special education, physiotherapy, assistive devices and ulcer care. They also help them to access external support such as vocational training, microcredit, and medical treatment.

In addition, the partnership assists remote communities affected by leprosy in Eastern Shan State with new leprosy case detection and ulcer care, develops agricultural livelihoods, and provides infrastructure such as hydro-electricity, sanitary latrines and safe water supplies.

Article 25

Anandaban Hospital is the main leprosy referral hospital in Nepal, providing free healthcare and leprosy research. Some of the hospital was damaged during the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, meaning that buildings are no longer safe. We have partnered with Article 25 to build a new earthquake-resilient Trauma Centre for the hospital campus.

The new building features an accident and emergency department, operating theatres and a maternity unit, as well as a rainwater harvesting system and a biodigester wastewater and sewage management system.

We are currently working with Article 25 on a new research centre for the hospital.

ILEP

The International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) is a consortium of international non-governmental organisations with a shared desire to see a world free from leprosy, and an acknowledgment that none of us can achieve this on our own. ILEP members collaborate on research, capacity strengthening, resource mobilisation and advocacy towards a world where there is no disease, disability or discrimination due to leprosy. Most of the global expertise in leprosy resides within ILEP members; we are working with these partner organisations to retain and scale up this expertise towards achieving the goal of zero leprosy by 2035.