TDR (Tropical Diseases Research), 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).

As a Special Programme based at WHO headquarters, TDR works closely with many WHO departments, research programmes and hosted partnerships in Geneva and in the six regional offices. This strong connection helps to coordinate our work and connect directly with WHO actions that improve health on the ground.

Relationships with its 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, TDR works with UNICEF on common approaches to children affected by poverty-related diseases, such as tuberculosis; with UNDP, TDR works 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 to work together on implementation issues specific to country needs.