Hansen’s Disease/Leprosy Grant Program

Hansen’s Disease/Leprosy Grant Program

Through its grant program, Sasakawa Health Foundation is promoting projects to build a society where Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is not deemed an issue, discrimination and stigma do not exist, and persons affected by Hansen’s disease can receive the treatment and services they need. In FY2024, we are supporting projects in three areas: tackling disease, fighting discrimination, and preserving history.

The application period depends on when the projects begin.

Please carefully read the following Application Guidelines before you apply.

Areas of Support and Priority Countries

Tackling Disease

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 for early detection, treatment and prevention of leprosy, and for creating support mechanisms to ensure that patients continue their treatment until it is completed.

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.

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

Fighting Discrimination

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 as well as investigative research and surveys in related fields.

Priority countries: Countries reporting more than 1,000 annual new cases or with a disease prevalence rate above 1.0 per 10,000 population as well as countries where discrimination against leprosy remains a social issue

Preserving History

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.

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.

Annual average amount of support

The amount of funding varies depending on the contents and nature of the project. For reference, the average figures for FY2023 are USD 20,000-40,000.

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must be non-profit organizations and may include educational and research institutions. Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF) does not accept applications from, nor provide grants to, individuals or for-profit organizations.

Expenses Covered

Expenses necessary for carrying out the project. Management costs should account for no more than 10% of project costs.

Please contact us in advance regarding the purchase of equipment such as personal computers.

Items not covered: Personnel costs not related to the project, management costs exceeding 10% of the total grant, expenditures that cannot be justified such as purchases of assets such as motorcycles, cars and land.

Although the project period ends March 10, fixed expenses (e.g. office rent, personnel cost related to the project, etc.) incurred during March can be included in expenses.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; Hansen’s Disease/Leprosy Grant Program

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