NETWORK RELEASE

3^rd November 2020 (Geneva, Switzerland) - The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) announced today a three-year partnership with the NCD Alliance for a total of 15,000,000 SEK (1.6 million USD) to support the response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).  

This landmark partnership forms part of Sweden’s strategy for global development cooperation in sustainable social development, which has the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDG3 on health and wellbeing at the centre. As the first major partnership for Sida on NCDs, it reinforces its’ position as a leader in global health and a frontrunner of development agencies to invest and combat NCDs in developing countries. 

NCDs including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental and neurological conditions cause 70% of all deaths worldwide, making them the leading cause of death and disability. Contrary to the perception of NCDs as a rich world problem, these diseases impact most heavily on LMICs, where NCDs are responsible for over two-thirds of deaths and will cost $7 trillion in economic losses over the next two decades[1]. NCDs are a driver and an outcome of poverty and are threatening people’s health and economies, yet health systems in many LMICs are ill-equipped to respond to this growing health challenge. 

The partnership between NCDA and Sida is even more relevant within the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic.“With the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with NCDs are even more vulnerable all over the world, but particularly in LMICs. NCD prevention by addressing major risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, and air pollution is crucially important”, said Anna Rosendahl, Head of the Unit for Global Social Development at Sida. “Therefore, Sweden has decided to provide support over the next three years to the NCD Alliance, which is a unique global civil society network dedicated to improving NCD prevention and control worldwide.” 

The NCD Alliance and its civil society network have been longstanding advocates for international development agencies such as Sida to be supporting the NCD response in LMICs. For many years and even since the adoption of Agenda 2030, the greatest burden of preventable death and disability has received the least health-related development assistance (less than 2% of total development assistance for health[2]). Therefore, this new partnership between NCDA and Sida is particularly pertinent.  

Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance said: “We applaud Sida for prioritising NCD prevention and control within its poverty alleviation and sustainable social development priorities. Sweden is walking the talk on the Sustainable Development Goals and has recognised the urgency for action on the global tsunami of NCDs. It is setting an example and an important precedent for other OECD countries to follow. This partnership is an important milestone for both organisations, and will support our work to protect the lives and rights of people living with NCDs in LMICs”. 

Over the course of 2020-2023, the partnership will support NCDA deliver its strategic plan, particularly supporting advocacy and accountability work, and scaling up capacity development programmes to support national and regional NCD alliances in LMICs. 

*ENDS*

Further Information: Jimena Márquez Donaher, Communications Director, NCD Alliance, mobile: +34 686 160 725.

About Sida

Sida is a government agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government, with the mission to reduce poverty in the world. Through our work and in cooperation with others, we contribute to implementing Swedish Policy for Global Development (PGU).

About the NCD Alliance

The NCD Alliance (NCDA) is a unique civil society network of 2,000 organisations in 170 countries, dedicated to improving NCD prevention and control worldwide. Our network includes NCDA members, national and regional NCD alliances, scientific and professional associations, and academic and research institutions. Together with strategic partners, including WHO, the UN and governments, NCDA is transforming the global fight against NCDs.