The Global Stop TB Partnership is an independent and autonomous entity only being hosted by WHO. It is different from the Stop TB Department of WHO. Similarly, the Stop TB Partnership in Uganda is an autonomous body. All partners maintain their own identity and participate in the partnership with the strength of that identity. In order to avoid that the partnership being just a gathering, it is essential that a basic management structure – the secretariat- be created. This would be the solid foundation for the partnership and would be the focal point for the coordination and control of its activities.

The secretariat supports the partnership and coordinates partners. In order to ensure the appropriate independence of the secretariat within the host organization, the secretariat must have its own separate funding. Partners may contribute to the functions of the secretariat by means of financing, equipment or secondment of staff. The national partnership does not replace or overshadow the NTLP but rather provides the supportive framework for all national and international interested parties. The national partnership is established as a result of a process of consultations with potential members and on the basis of the agreed Terms of Reference (TOR).