Linda Chinonso Ugwu

Program Manager (CBM Global mhCAP-NTDs Project) • Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) & Safeguarding Focal Person
[email protected]
LINDA UGWU

Professional Associations

  • International Leprosy Association (ILA)
  • Community-Based Rehabilitation Africa
  • Global Safeguarding & PSEAH Network
  • Nigerian Institute of Management

Works with

  • University of Birmingham, UK
  • National Institute for Health & Care Research
  • Disabled Persons' Organizations (DPOs)
  • State Ministries of Health & Welfare

My Teams & Managed Portfolios

CBM Global mhCAP-NTDs: Integrated Mental Health in Ogoja Active Project Portfolio: Integrated Mental Health (mhCAP) Organizational Safeguarding & PSEAH Systems

Professional Background

Over 15 years in public health research, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and community empowerment.

Linda Chinonso Ugwu is a Programme Officer with over fifteen years of dedicated experience across public health research, humanitarian programming, and community development.

Her areas of focus include Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID), organizational safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), and integrated health systems for persons affected by neglected tropical diseases. Linda has coordinated donor-funded, multi-site research studies and public health interventions, including six multi-country studies on leprosy and Buruli ulcer funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

She currently directs a three-year research project focused on strengthening access to people-centered mental healthcare for persons affected by NTDs, having led its pilot phase and co-authored its peer-reviewed findings in International Health. As RedAid Nigeria's Safeguarding and PSEAH Focal Person, Linda leads institutional safeguarding policy formulation, safer recruitment systems, and community-level reporting mechanisms that ensure vulnerable populations are served with safety, dignity, and equity.

Publications & Open Educational Resources (OER)

Peer-reviewed manuscripts, clinical trial studies, safeguarding toolkits, and community development curricula.

Article

Mental Health and Capacity Building for Neglected Tropical Diseases (mhCAP-NTDs) in Nigeria: Pilot Intervention Outcomes

Ugwu, L. C., et al. / International Health, Oxford University Press / 2024
mhCAP & NTDs View Manuscript
Trial

Community Self-Care Intervention to Improve the Management of Leprosy Ulcers in Southeast Nigeria: Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Trial

NIHR, University of Birmingham and RedAid Nigeria Research Consortium / Clinical Trial Report / 2024
Cluster Trial Request Resource
Paper

Sustainability of Self-Help Groups in Southern Nigeria: Qualitative Assessment of Socioeconomic and Health Independence

Ugwu, L. C. (Lead Author) / International Leprosy Congress, Bali / 2025
Self-Help Groups Request Abstract
Toolkit

Organizational Safeguarding and PSEAH Policy Toolkit: Safe Programming and Protection Standards for Frontline Health Facilities

Safeguarding Secretariat / RedAid Nigeria Governance Manual / 2024
PSEAH Safeguarding View in Resources

Community-Based Inclusive Development: Establishing and Sustaining Peer Support Networks for Persons Affected by NTDs

Community Development Unit / RedAid Field Implementation Guide / 2024
Implementation Guide View in Resources

Managed Portfolios & Research Initiatives

Directing community mental health, safeguarding integrity, and inclusive development partnerships.

CBM Global mhCAP-NTDs Project (Ogoja, Cross River State)

Program Manager directing the CBM Global and Anesvad Foundation-supported mhCAP-NTDs initiative in Ogoja LGA. Leading stakeholder co-design with the Federal Ministry of Health, training primary health workers across 22 clinics on depression screening (PHQ-9), and rolling out community psychosocial support networks.

Safeguarding and PSEAH Institutional Systems

Institutional focal person leading policy enforcement, safer hiring procedures, risk assessments, and secure, accessible grievance mechanisms across all RedAid operations and partners.

Community-Based Inclusive Development & Self-Help

Facilitating self-help groups and grassroots organizations of persons with disabilities, supporting livelihood initiatives, rights advocacy, and systematic social inclusion across Southern Nigeria.

NIHR Collaborative Research Studies

Operational coordinator for six multi-country research studies on Neglected Tropical Diseases with the University of Birmingham, overseeing ethical review submissions and rigorous field data collection.

Professional Capabilities

Core Areas of Expertise

Community-Based Inclusive Development

Grassroots disability inclusion, self-help group formation, socioeconomic empowerment, and peer psychosocial support.

  • Grassroots disability inclusion and universal accessibility frameworks.
  • Self-Help Group (SHG) formation, governance strengthening, and peer support networks.
  • Socioeconomic empowerment, micro-enterprise coaching, and livelihood restoration.
  • Community dialogue facilitation to dismantle stigma against persons affected by leprosy.

Safeguarding & PSEAH Governance

Institutional protection policy formulation, safer recruitment, confidential reporting channels, and frontline risk mitigation.

  • Institutional Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) policies.
  • Safer recruitment protocols, staff vetting, and code of conduct enforcement.
  • Confidential complaint mechanisms, safe whistleblowing, and survivor-centered care.
  • Frontline safeguarding risk assessments across remote field project sites.

Multi-Site Health Research

Coordination of NIHR global health research studies, ethical review management, and peer-reviewed qualitative research delivery.

  • Qualitative field research coordination in partnership with NIHR and international universities.
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethical submissions and community consent protocols.
  • In-depth patient lived-experience documentation and participatory action research.
  • Evidence synthesis for policy advocacy and international academic publications.

Self-Help Groups & Rights Advocacy

Building sustainable community networks of persons affected by NTDs, micro-credit linkages, and stigma elimination dialogues.

  • Federation and legal structuring of leprosy and disability survivor associations.
  • Rights-based civic advocacy and engagement with state disability commissions.
  • Financial inclusion pipelines, revolving credit funds, and bank account onboarding.
  • Peer counseling, psychosocial trauma resilience, and community reintegration.

Affiliations & Professional Network

Institutional research networks, inclusive development associations, and safeguarding committees.

Linda collaborates with academic researchers at the University of Birmingham and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and maintains active technical partnerships with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), state ministries of health, and international development working groups on safeguarding and PSEAH.

Contact & Collaboration Inquiries

For operational research collaborations, safeguarding advisory, or inclusive community development partnerships:

Send email inquiry