TB REACH Wave 11: Bringing Innovative approaches for TB and Lung Health closer to the point of need.

In June 2024, Stop TB Partnership's Executive Committee approved 28 new TB REACH Wave 11 projects for USD 14.5 million in 15 different countries. The projects will focus on innovations and people-centred approaches to integrate services for TB and lung health conditions at the primary and community levels of the health systems. Applicants had to propose approaches aiming to provide access to services for people with TB and other lung conditions, closest to the first point of contact with the health system in an integrated manner. Funding for Wave 11 is generously supported by Global Affairs Canada, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). 

Launched in November 2023, the Wave 11 call for proposals generated a huge interest. We received almost 600 proposals submitted in the first application stage. After the deliberations of the TB REACH independent proposal review committee (PRC), 144 of the applicants were invited to submit a more detailed second stage proposal. After the second stage review, the PRC recommended the selection of the 28 proposals based on their feasibility of being implemented and achieving impact and sustainability. 

The Wave 11 projects aim to diagnose and link more than 135,000 people with TB to treatment and will provide support for diagnosis and treatment more many more with other lung health conditions. For the first time ever, TB REACH will also focus on post-TB lung disease (PTLD), which affects many TB survivors and has long been overlooked. 

Selected projects will be implementing various integrated service delivery (ISD) models to integrate TB with other health conditions including: lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia); chronic respiratory diseases including COPD, asthma, Post TB lung disease, silicosis and lung cancer; addressing risk factors including malnutrition, smoking cessation, substance use disorders;  and other systemic conditions including cardiovascular diseases, sickle cell disease (SCD), viral hepatitis among others. They will also evaluate the impact of such ISD models on health systems strengthening (HSS). The projects will implement gender-responsive interventions, and work to improve gender equity and empower women through their TB programming as part of Stop TB Partnership’s commitment to gender responsive programming and gender equity. 

Wave 11 selected projects by county and organization