About Us

   The Research for Equity and Community Health (REACH) Trust  was registered in 2004
   as an independent Malawi registered legal entity research trust.

   REACH Trust has grown out of a long established research collaboration
   between the Malawian National TB Control Programme, the Department of Sociology, 
   University of Malawi and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

  This collaboration was funded by the Department for International Development
  (DFID) as the TB Equity Project with the aim to promote access to TB care particularly for the
   poorest and most vulnerable.

   Under the TB Equity Project a number of research studies on poverty and TB and barriers
   to access to TB care were conducted, and presented to policy-makers both nationally and
   internationally. With further funding from DFID, the TB Equity Project grew into the EQUI-TB
   Knowledge Programme, with a consolidated focus on research to promote equity in TB care.

   Reach Trust, now an independent research organisation is broadening its research portfolio.
   It not only addresses TB, but also HIV, Malaria and Health Systems whilst maintaining its
   strong community and equity focus.

   The REACH Trust’s current research portfolio is on tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria.
   It uses social, clinical and biomedical research to approach these issues.
 

  Policy Relevance
 

   The purpose of REACH Trust is to undertake research that promotes equity in health, and
   is  close to policy.  In practice this requires an understanding of the national and international

   socio-economic development environment.    The REACH Trust will ensure that its work
   contributes to the equitable implementation of the Essential Health Package (EHP) under
   the frameworks of the Health Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) and decentralisation.
   It will also ensure that all research staff are conversant with the key developments in the
   broader environment, including the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy
 

  Other issues to be considered are:

• Achievement of the Millennium Development G

  Fulfilling the Mission
 

   REACH Trust programmes and priorities are implemented to make sure that our
   research work strengthens our capacity and the capacity of our partners, directly feed
   to policy and practice and also contribute to the knowledge and evidence. In addition the
   Trust is already implementing activities which are  linked to themes for research and
   programme priorities.
 

  Programme Priorities
 

  Contribution to evidence, science policy and dialogue:
 

   The Trust seeks to conduct research that contributes to science and evidence based
   practice within the health sector with a key focus on equity and access to services.
   he main thematic areas are as follows:

• n stigma and poverty.

   A key indicator for the Trust will be the extent to which our research outputs informs
   debates around improving access to services and are utilised by policy makers. 
   In addition the Trust staff will:
 

   Disseminate research outputs widely through publication in peer reviewed journals,
   policy briefings,and presentations at international, regional, national and community fora.
   Promote pro-poor and gender sensitive policy and practice through advocacy and
   sustained interaction with policy makers and practitioners Cultivate political will among
   policy implementers.

 Building partnerships and networking:
 

  The REACH Trust has well established links and partnership with the
   Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), National TB Control Programme
   (NTP), HIV/AIDS unit, EQUINET, Norwegian Association of Heart and Lung Patient
   (LHL) and growing links with World Health Organisation and local Malawi NGOs.
   The Trust will work towards maintaining and strengthening its existing and growing
   links with LSTM, EQUINET, LHL, NTP, Sociology Department,
   University of Malawi and World Health Organisation through the following mechanisms:

   The Trust will also work towards developing new and strengthening partnership with
   local and international organisations by providing Technical Assistants and also
   getting  funding for research activities. For example links with organisation such as
   World Vision International, OXFAM, Malawi Health Equity Network, Lighthouse, Action
   Against Hunger etc.
 

  In order to enhance utilisation of our research outputs the Trust will consolidate
   further partnership with key organisations working within the health sector and within
   the SWAp, participate in key technical working groups and network with international

   organisations.Through partnerships and networking the Trust seek to gain recognition
   on its role in enhancing equity and access to health services in Malawi and
   internationally and attract further funding to conduct quality research activities
   around its research themes.
 
  Specifically the Trust will cultivate and build partnerships with:
 

·         Policy makers and donors.

·         Different stakeholders at all levels.

·         Institutions engaged in pro-poor activities.

·         Institutions advocating pro-poor public-private partnerships.
 

  Technical Assistance within the Health Sector:
 

  The Trust also provides technical support to its partners. This will be done in order
  to fully contribute to improved policy making in Malawi and to ensure the
  Trust’s own financial sustainability.
 

  The REACH Trust will:

• Provide technical assistance to governmental and non-governmental institutions
  to improve their performance in enhancing equity and
• Provide training to key stakeholders to expose them to cutting-edge theoretical,
  analytical and methodological issues in undertaking research on
  poverty, gender and equity in health and access to services.

  Capacity building:
 

  Enhancement of institutional and professional research capacity is key to the
  REACH Trust’s aim of conducting research that promotes equitable, pro-poor,
  gender sensitive health provision. To fulfil this goal REACH Trust will continue: 

  Supporting its staff to upgrade their research capacity and academic qualifications.
  Support administration staff to improve and upgrade their qualification to ensure
  excellence and accountability in our internal systems.
 

 The Trust has strong research skills in the following areas:
 

·      Participatory Approaches.

·      Qualitative Research.

·      Dissemination/Advocacy – linking with policy makers and presenting  findings at various forums both nationally and internationally.

·      Preparing policy briefings.

·      Equity monitoring.

·      Networking.

·      Applying gender and poverty lenses.

·      Community mobilisation and empowerment.

·      Over the next five years the Trust will undertake capacity-strengthening initiatives linked to its ongoing research in the following priority areas:
Quantitative, analytical and statistical approaches – e.g. quintile analysis.

·      Strengthen skills in academic writing: this will enhance the publishing of outputs in peer reviewed journals.

·       Policy Analysis.

·       Proposal Development.

·       Health Financing and Economic Analysis.

·       GIS.

·       Internal learning and sharing of knowledge.

·       Updating the library and subscribing to key journals.

·       IT and the development of a REACH website.
 

  In addition the Trust will ensure empowering and strengthening of the
  community-based organizations and HSAs (Health Surveillance Assistants)
  to promote equity in access and adherence to essential health services