About us
TDR/Y. Tushar
©
Credits
About us
TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, is a global programme of scientific collaboration that helps facilitate, support and influence efforts to combat diseases of poverty. It is co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Our Vision
“The health and well-being of people burdened by infectious diseases of poverty is improved through research and innovation.”
Our Mission
“To support effective and innovative global health research, through strengthening the research capacity of disease-affected countries, and promoting the translation of evidence into interventions that reduce the burden of infectious diseases and build resilience in the most vulnerable populations.”
As a Special Programme based at WHO headquarters, we work closely with many WHO departments, research programmes and hosted partnerships in Geneva and in the six regional offices. This strong connection helps us to coordinate our work and connect directly with WHO actions that improve health on the ground.
Relationships with our other co-sponsors UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank are also critical to our success, particularly in optimizing our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For example, we work with UNICEF on common approaches to children affected by poverty-related diseases, such as tuberculosis; with UNDP, we work to increase access to new products by engaging various stakeholders in countries and strengthening national capacities; and the World Bank’s agenda of increased health system resilience provides an opportunity for us to work together on implementation issues specific to country needs.
Our performance
Measuring not only what we do but how we do it
TDR performance measurement is guided by the TDR performance assessment framework. The framework has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders to help guide the implementation of TDR’s strategy. It has the following objectives:
- Promote continuous performance improvement through organizational review, learning and informed decision-making.
- Enhance accountability to stakeholders, including beneficiaries, partners and resource contributors.
Stay in touch with the latest research information
Subscribe to TDR eNewslettera monthly roundup on research and policy news
Join TDR Scientists listand receive updates on research news and available grants
Publications
View all →
17 April 2023
TDR annual report 2022
This report highlights the impact of research supported by the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases...
12 May 2022
TDR annual report 2021
This report provides an overview of the highlights from 2021 that demonstrate the impact of research supported by TDR to improve the health and well-being...
13 June 2021
TDR Annual Report 2020
In this report, we highlight many positive stories that have emerged in the background of the global crisis. In particular, we have found that our...
TDR strategy documents
View all →
31 July 2023
TDR Strategy 2024-2029
For almost 50 years, TDR has been a leader in research to address infectious diseases of poverty and in building the capacity of people, communities and...
5 June 2020
TDR Intersectional gender research strategy
Gender norms, roles and relations are all known to influence people’s susceptibility to different health conditions, particularly those associated...
29 June 2017
TDR strategy 2018-2023
This document covers the TDR strategy for 2018-23. It lays out TDR’s focus on research for increased implementation and access, graphically displaying...
Results reports and performance frameworks
View all →
2 August 2023
TDR Results Report 2022
In 2022, TDR made significant progress on the 2018–2023 strategy, reaching or surpassing nearly all targets set for 2023, for annually measured output...
7 July 2022
TDR results 2021 report
In 2021, despite the slowdown in field activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, TDR made good progress in delivering towards the targets of the 2018–2023...
5 October 2021
TDR performance framework 2018-2023
Since 2009, both TDR’s Performance Assessment Framework (PAF) and the related annual TDR Results Reports have been increasingly used by TDR contributors...
Team reports and programme budgets
View all →
27 March 2024
Annual report 2023: Research capacity strengthening
Research Capacity Strengthening activities are at the heart of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training on Tropical Diseases...
27 March 2024
Annual report 2023: Research for implementation
Research for implementation is one of the three strategic priority areas of the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training...
27 March 2024
Annual report 2023: Global engagement
An essential part of TDR’s work is to engage with the global health community to promote and facilitate the role of research for development and...
2 August 2023
Programme budget and workplan 2024-2025
The 2024–2025 Programme Budget and Workplan represents the first biennium into TDR’s six-year Strategy for 2024–2029 which, in turn,...
2 August 2023
Financial report 2022
2022-2023 Financial update2024-2025 Programme budgetTDR Certified Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2022
8 May 2023
Effective research capacity strengthening
To prevent capacity gaps from blocking the equitable uptake of research opportunities, many funders embed capacity strengthening initiatives into the research...
External reviews
View all >>
20 June 2022
Seventh external review of TDR
External reviews of TDR take place every five to seven years. The previous review, the sixth, took place in 2016. The current review looks at the early...
17 August 2016
The Sixth External Review
This 6th external review of TDR, conducted in 2015, was requested by the Joint Coordinating Board. The mandate was to investigate and analyse the strategic...
8 December 2011
Interim External Review and Evaluation of TDR
The TDR Interim External Review was carried out as a mid-term strategy evaluation covering the years 2008 to 2011. It provided the basis for the 2012-2017...
30 May 2006
The Fourth External Review
The Fourth External Review Committee (ERC) was asked by the TDR Joint Coordinating Board to look at TDR's performance in the past 5-6 years, with particular...
1 October 1998
The Third External Review
This report presents a global strategic assessment of TDR as reviewed by the Third External Review Committee in 1997/8.The report first focuses on TDR’s...
27 June 1988
The Second External Review
The second external review and evaluation of the UNDP/WORLD BANK/ WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) was conducted...
30 June 1982
The First External Review
The First External Review is part of the JCB 5 report.At the its December 1980 meeting, the Joint Coordinating Board of the UNDP/World Bank/ WHO Special...