REFOTDE > About Us

Who We Are?

The Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment (REFOTDE) is an independent, not-for-profit research-oriented non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and practical solutions to tropical diseases and environment-related health challenges.

REFOTDE operates as a high-level scientific research hub, with a strong emphasis on: – Clinical trials and translational research – Tropical and neglected infectious diseases – Environmental determinants of health – Ethics, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of biomedical research – Community-centred and policy-relevant science.

Our institutional philosophy is rooted in the belief that excellent science, ethical responsibility, and humanitarian values are inseparable. We bridge laboratory science, field-based research, and community realities to deliver evidence that is both globally competitive and locally transformative.

Vision

REFOTDE envisions a world in which scientific innovation, ethical governance, and community intelligence converge to eliminate preventable diseases, reduce health inequities, and build resilient, inclusive, and climate-responsive health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. We aspire to be a globally respected, African-led center of excellence that generates knowledge, shapes policy, and translates science into sustainable health impact-leaving no population invisible, underserved, or behind.

Mission

REFOTDE’s mission is to advance interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, implementation science, and capacity strengthening that respond to complex health challenges at the interface of biomedical science, social systems, and environmental change. Through rigorous research, ethical clinical trials, digital innovation, and deep community engagement, REFOTDE generates policy-relevant evidence, accelerates equitable access to effective interventions, strengthens health systems performance, and empowers communities as co-producers of health solutions.

THEORY OF CHANGE

REFOTDE’s Theory of Change is grounded in the conviction that sustainable health impact emerges when science, ethics, systems, and society are intentionally aligned. Locally grounded and globally relevant research, conducted within ethically robust and socially legitimate frameworks and integrated with data science, geospatial intelligence, and implementation research, leads to innovations that are adopted, scaled, and sustained. This pathway results in measurable reductions in disease burden, improved equity, and resilient health systems capable of responding to current and future health challenges.
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CORE VALUES AS INSTITUTIONAL PILLARS

Scientific Excellence; Ethical Integrity and Accountability; Community Partnership and Social Legitimacy; Equity, Inclusion and Dignity; Interdisciplinarity and Systems Thinking; Innovation with Purpose; Transparency, Partnership and Stewardship. These values are not aspirational statements but operational pillars that guide REFOTDE’s strategy, partnerships, governance, and impact across all programs and geographies.

Locations

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