As part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative, LEEP’s Opportunity Fund advances strategic, short-term projects that further our communal understanding of lead poisoning prevention. We are excited to announce the first two rounds of grantees who will further inform our work on paint, traditional cosmetics, battery recycling, lead levels in water and cookware, information campaigns, and more.

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Lead Acid Battery Recycling Initiative (LABRI): This project aims to map informal battery recycling practices in smaller economies, and assess the potential for transitioning to higher quality formal recycling. An initial report on Malawi has been released, and they are planning future work in Cambodia.

Oeko-Institut: This team will work to map the Used Lead-Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling industry in Cameroon and assess facility-specific lead emissions. They plan to train regulators and plant managers to develop improvement plans and a policy roadmap for sector reform.

Haramaya University: This study targets pregnant women to assess their exposure to lead from traditional eyeliner (kohl). The study data will be used to design a strategy to reduce lead exposure, with options including behaviour change strategies, regulatory enforcement, or combined interventions.

Norhan Bader: This experienced consultant will test a new behaviour change communication intervention to reduce the use of informally produced eyeliner (kohl) in Egypt.

IDinsight: This project will test a behavior change campaign to reduce the use of leaded kohl eyeliner on children in two regions of Morocco. They will then use the findings to design scalable interventions across North Africa.

icddr,b: This project will conduct a six-month rapid assessment to generate actionable evidence on lead exposure from surma (traditional eyeliner) in Bangladesh. The study will assess surma use patterns, cultural drivers, and product preferences among users across four districts (Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cumilla); map the surma supply chain from retailers to importers; and test surma samples to determine lead prevalence.

Makerere University School of Public Health: In Uganda, experts will investigate lead exposure from domestic cookware in Kampala’s informal settlements. They will conduct laboratory analysis to quantify total and leachable lead in commonly used cookware; map and characterise the supply chain to identify producers and distributors of contaminated products, and investigate the manufacturing and material pathways through which lead is introduced. Findings will inform stakeholder engagement with regulators, manufacturers, and market actors to prioritise practical, scalable interventions to eliminate lead from cookware production and distribution.

Ministry of the Environment and Ecological Transition (MINETE): This government-led initiative in Côte d’Ivoire will map the import and use of lead chromates to identify key supply chain actors. Following the supply chain analysis, they will identify the appropriate regulatory pathway for lead chromate controls; identify and raise awareness of lead-free alternative pigments; draft and validate regulation to control lead chromates; train control agents; and sensitise industry to incoming regulation.

University of Washington: This project will measure the magnitude, frequency, and distribution of drinking water supplies in two Indian states with high blood levels (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana). Homeowners and school officials will be surveyed about the water infrastructure on their property, before their water sources are tested for lead. The team will also test samples of plumbing materials from local hardware stores. The study results, and recommendations for remediating drinking water supplies, will be shared with residents, school district administrators, and local health officials.

Lead Research for Action (LeRA): This research project will conduct a systematic, market-based study to identify major sources of lead exposure in a high-burden country where data is currently lacking. They aim to generate actionable evidence to guide government and NGO mitigation efforts.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Co-funded with Coefficient Giving, this project supports the development of lead paint policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, the Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, and Tajikistan. It also is working to assess the need for regulation enforcement support in Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay and Serbia.