On the 17th-18th October 2016, NCD Alliance in collaboration with WHO AFRO held a Regional Consultation in Balaclava, Mauritius, on the roles and responsibilities of WHO and civil society organisations in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the African region.

This was the first time that WHO AFRO convened civil society from across the region on the subject of NCDs, marking a commitment towards the active involvement of civil society in the NCD response.

The landmark meeting brought together over 45 civil society organizations from across the African region to examine the contribution of civil society in the NCD response and discuss collaboration and coordination. It included representatives from NCD alliances from Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, East Africa  as well as from the nascent alliances of Zambia and Malawi.

The meeting resulted in the formation of an AFRO regional NCD civil society network which will allow for increased information exchange amongst members as well as capacity building of CSOs and alliances, and coordinated regional advocacy.

The meeting also consulted civil society on the AFRO Regional Framework for Collaboration with CSOs in the Prevention and Control of NCDs in the African Region. Once finalised, it will be submitted for formal adoption by member states of the region.

To support the meeting as well as NCD efforts, NCD Alliance conducted a situational analysis of NCD civil society in the AFRO region.

The situational analysis will incorporate the proceedings of the meeting and will be promoted by NCD Alliance once finalised.

This meeting marks the bringing together of NCD civil society and WHO AFRO to work towards a stronger NCD response in the region.

The meeting produced a series of recommendations towards WHO AFRO, CSOs of the African region and the NCD Alliance. These recommendations will be shared in the final meeting report.