Project coordination
Effect Hope

Partners
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Hope Commission International

Aim: The study aims to understand Peer support groups (PSG) sustainability from the perspective of group members, and to identify barriers and drivers for sustainability of PSGs established in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire,

Full project title:

Project summary

Peer support groups (PSGs) are instrumental in empowering individuals affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and addressing social determinants of health (SDoH), focusing on social inclusion, livelihoods and advocacy. However, sustainability is often compromised, with activities diminishing over time without continual financial and technical support. To address this critical gap, the researchers aim to understand: What are the key factors influencing the sustainability of Peer support groups (PSGs) for individuals affected by skin-NTDs?

The  research team seeks to assess and enhance sustainability and ownership of existing PSGs in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire to operationalise best practices and harmonise long-term impact measures. PSGs were established in Nigeria through COUNTDOWN, an  implementation research project in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in 2020-2021. Groups have continued to operate despite the end of the project. Therefore PSGs will be revisited to identify contributing factors to their sustainability  three years post-establishment. Additionally, the RESTORE project is currently piloting PSGs in Côte d'Ivoire.

Working in partnership with persons affected as co-researchers, the researchers will conduct interviews with stakeholders and facilitate a series of creative participatory workshops to map the steps towards sustainability and empowerment. Through the course of the research study, the research team will: Examine the current status of existing PSGs to identify barriers and drivers of sustainability and empowerment; Evaluate the impact of PSGs on the SDoH of members; and implement co-developed indicators for sustainability and empowerment and best practices for existing groups for a harmonised PSG model, ultimately accelerating WHO 2030 targets for enhanced person-centred NTD care. Learnings will be applied to further adapt PSGs through their different developmental stages, promoting cross-country knowledge exchange.