Grants - Hansen's Disease/Leprosy

2. Period of Support

April 2021 – March 2022

• All projects (tackling disease, fighting discrimination, preserving history) are, in principle, for 2 to 3 years.
• For multi-year projects, applications are required on an annual basis.
• Projects are to start in April or September in principle. All projects should conclude by March, regardless of when they begin.

We support activities that contribute to providing high-quality Hansen’s disease services (e.g., early detection and treatment, prevention of transmission, rehabilitation) in endemic countries.

• Activities to share experience and transfer know-how to healthcare personnel with insufficient knowledge of Hansen’s disease.
• Activities in communities and schools that promote awareness of the importance and methods of early diagnosis and treatment.
• Activities for early detection, treatment and prevention of leprosy, and for creating support mechanisms to ensure that patients continue their treatment until it is completed.

Priority countries: Countries reporting more than 1,000 annual new cases or with a disease prevalence rate above 1.0 per 10,000 population

We support activities to empower persons affected by Hansen’s disease and eliminate the stigma and discrimination they face by strengthening their organizations’ foundations and networks to enable them to gain a solid foothold in society and develop sustainably as the primary stakeholders at the heart of resolving issues related to Hansen’s disease.

• Organizational strengthening and empowerment of People’s Organizations including human resource development, as well as network building between organizations.
• Activities that contribute to the empowerment of persons affected by Hansen’s disease (e.g. promotion of participation, capacity building, establishment of economic base, participation in policy-making process)
• Educational support for children of persons affected by Hansen’s disease.
• Activities that deepen understanding of issues surrounding Hansen’s disease through awareness raising and network building among key actors.

Priority countries: Countries reporting more than 1,000 annual new cases or with a disease prevalence rate above 1.0 per 10,000 population

The history of Hansen’s disease holds many lessons for future generations regarding the treatment, care and integration into the community of individuals with stigmatizing diseases, disabling conditions and health impairments, and the importance of safeguarding human rights. SHF funding for history preservation focuses not only on the medical history of Hansen’s disease but also on its social impact, with a particular focus on the lives of those who personally experienced the disease. We welcome proposals that highlight the resilience of persons affected by Hansen’s disease and their efforts to lead a dignified existence in the face of stigma and discrimination. Collection of histories and historical materials: Collect life stories and historical materials (and the stories behind the materials), before it is too late.

• Collection of histories and historical materials: Collect life stories and historical materials (and the stories behind the materials), before it is too late.
• Preservation of historical materials: Preserve fast-deteriorating historical materials for future generations through archiving, digitalization and online databases; develop web content that gives issues surrounding Hansen’s disease relevance to contemporary audiences.
• Human resource development for history preservation: Provide training to groups who recognize the need for history preservation but who lack know-how and expertise; form networks and develop human resources to promote the search for and collection of historical materials.
• Awareness-raising and advocacy to expand the circle of history preservation activities: Conduct activities to sensitize potential collaborators outside the field of Hansen’s disease (e.g. researchers, archivists, government agencies), and promote search for and collection of historical materials.
• Research: Carry out action-oriented research that assigns value to historical materials and leads to better policies and practices for preserving and disseminating knowledge about Hansen’s disease history and heritage. Applicants for funding will need to show how the research results will be used and the expected impact of the research as a condition of support.

Priority countries: Countries where proposals for activities that can serve as a model for other countries in preserving Hansen’s disease history or that contribute to the transfer of expertise or experience to others are possible.