Nearly 200 million people remain at risk of joining the 1.9 million who are already blind, stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty created by trachoma which is often co-endemic with other NTDs. The working hypothesis of this investment is that intense and focused implementation of the WHO SAFE strategy will eliminate trachoma as a public health problem from the African continent.
Our role
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and its partners (BMGF, ELMA Philanthropies and Virgin Unite) have commissioned Itad and Tropical Health to conduct an external evaluation to assess the impact of their investment in the Accelerate Trachoma Elimination Programme. Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world.
Our approach
Working with Tropical Health, our evaluation will provide timely and scientifically rigorous data about the impact of the Accelerate investment and inform global guidelines as well as future investments in combating NTDs by CIFF and its partners. We are utilising both an impact and process evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) methodology including modelling of secondary data to assess impact and where appropriate cost-effectiveness/cost-benefit. We are working collaboratively to develop a strategy for internal learning and evidence uptake, and for external dissemination and sharing. Lessons learnt from this evaluation will inform future investments in combating NTDs) Subsidiary to this evaluation, we are working with CIFF to design and run operational research to test the feasibility of using biometric technology to improve the effectiveness of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for trachoma treatment in Ethiopia.
Image: Valoraciones (Assessments) © Credit: Pan American Health Organization (CC BY-ND 2.0)
