Program

HOPE

Discover the HOPE project — a community-centered initiative supporting early detection, care, and improved health outcomes for people affected by neglected tropical diseases.

HOPE – Harmonised Model for Optimizing Peer Support Group Effectiveness

Location: Nigeria & Côte d’Ivoire

Timeline: January 2025 – 2028

Partners: LRI, LSTM, Hope Commission International, Ahmadu Bello University Ghana and Triumphant Youth Foundation

Overview

The HOPE Project—short for “Harmonised Model for Optimizing Peer Support Group Effectiveness”—is a 3-year initiative starting in January 2025. It focuses on improving the long-term success of peer support groups (PSGs) for people affected by skin-related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like leprosy, buruli ulcer, and lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

Challenge

People living with skin NTDs often face serious challenges beyond just physical symptoms. These include:

  • Social stigma and exclusion
  • Mental health struggles
  • Difficulty finding work or earning income
  • Limited access to healthcare and support

Peer support groups have been shown to help—by offering emotional support, building community, and even helping members start small businesses. But there’s a big problem: many of these groups don’t last. Once outside funding or NGO support ends, the groups often fall apart.

Solution

The HOPE Project aims to figure out what makes some peer support groups last while others fade. It will:

  • Study existing groups in Nigeria (established in 2020–2021) and Côte d’Ivoire (started in 2023)
  • Work directly with group members as co-researchers
  • Use creative and participatory methods like storytelling, visual timelines, and workshops
  • Develop practical tools like action plans and scorecards to help groups stay strong and self-sufficient

Key Details

  • Countries Involved: Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire
  • Diseases Focused On: Leprosy, buruli ulcer, and lymphatic filariasis
  • Target Groups: People affected by these diseases, especially those in rural or underserved areas
  • Research Approach: Participatory Action Research—meaning the people affected help design and carry
    out the study

Main Goals

  • Understand what “empowerment” and “sustainability” mean to group members
  • Identify what helps or hinders long-term success of PSGs
  • Create a guide and tools that other communities can use to build lasting support groups

Outcomes

  • A practical guide for running sustainable peer support groups
  • Scorecards and checklists for group members to track their progress
  • Policy briefs for governments and NGOs
  • A cross-country research paper
  • Visual and creative materials to make findings accessible to all literacy levels