Former partner looks after projects (7)
I believe the answer is:
extends
'projects' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'former partner looks after' is the wordplay.
'former partner' becomes 'ex' (an ex-partner).
'looks after' becomes 'tends' (tending is a kind of looking after).
'ex'+'tends'='EXTENDS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for extends that I've seen before include "Reaches or stretches out, say the hand of friendship" , "Stretches out over a distance" , "Lengthens" , "holds out" , "Makes longer" .)