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How we're fighting lead exposure

Supported activities

LEAF’s grantmaking is focused on three broad buckets:

Measurement

We support projects that collect critical data on the prevalence of lead exposure and the contribution from different sources, and efforts to improve the methods used for measurement.

Mitigation

We support projects aimed at reducing lead exposure from the most urgent and addressable sources.

Mainstreaming

To make progress on lead exposure, countries will need to make it a policy priority, and funders will need to increase their commitments. We support projects to raise the levels of attention and funding directed toward this critical health issue.

Our current targets

Each of the goals below represents a 50th-percentile outcome for a particular sub-strategy by the end of 2027. 20th and 80th percentile outcomes are tracked in this sheet. We expect our thinking and targets to evolve over the period of the fund as measurement activities expose new features of the problem.

  • Nationally representative surveys of blood lead levels have been conducted in at least four countries that currently lack that data.

  • Sources comprising the majority of expected lead exposure have been identified in at least five countries where they are not currently known.

  • Marketplace surveys assessing the prevalence of lead in paint have been run in at least 25 countries.

  • The prevalence of lead in spices has been assessed in at least 90% of countries in which it is suspected to be a major source of exposure.

  • At least 10 countries have largely eliminated lead in paint (i.e. at least 80% of paint by market volume has been confirmed lead-free in a survey).

  • Lead in spices has been largely eliminated (i.e. at least an 80% reduction in prevalence of contamination) in at least half of the countries (or states) in which it has been identified as a major source of exposure.

  • At least three successful mitigation projects have been completed, leading to a measurable reduction in the prevalence of lead by at least 50% in an expected major source other than lead and paint (e.g. cookware, ceramics, cosmetics).

  • Funding commitments (excluding contributors to LEAF) have increased from ~$5M / year to at least $50M / year by 2027.

  • At least three bilateral or multilateral aid agencies have dedicated efforts related to lead exposure.

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