20th May 2019, Geneva – The third Global NCD Alliance Forum was announced yesterday, taking place on 9-11 February 2020 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Forum, convened by the NCD Alliance (NCDA) in partnership with local host organisation Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP),  will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, and Founder and Patron of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP).

The announcement was made at a high-level reception on the side lines of the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva, where the NCD Alliance was celebrating its ten year anniversary.

“Non-communicable diseases – such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental health - are responsible for 70% of deaths globally. They cause enormous challenges for people, their families and societies, and undermine economic productivity of countries”, said Her Excellency Mrs Sawsan Jafar, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP). “Compelled by the slow and uneven progress on NCDs at national and regional levels, it is essential to champion this urgent health and development issue. Building upon our global convenings in 2015 and 2017, we are pleased to welcome NCD civil society from around the world back to Sharjah in 2020 to progress this agenda."

“The third Global NCD Alliance Forum will grow from the successes of the first two, mobilising key civil society stakeholders and consolidating the Forum as the key global meeting for NCD civil society”, said Todd Harper, President of NCD Alliance. The third Forum, themed “Bridging the Gap”, will build on the outcomes of the 2018 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and look to accelerate efforts to translate political commitments and rhetoric into action and implementation at local and national levels.

“For the 2020 edition, we have our sights on a bigger and even more interactive Global Forum which will have lasting impact. We are excited to convene 400 leaders from across the NCD civil society movement in Sharjah. The theme “Bridging the Gap” will allow us to focus on success factors and enablers to change at the national and local contexts, sharing best practice and highlighting trailblazer on prevention and control examples to inspire and galvanise action on NCDs”, said Katie Dain, CEO of NCD Alliance.

The first Global NCD Alliance Forum took place in 2015 and convened NCD civil society from across the world for the first time, resulting in increased knowledge and advocacy skills, new networks and connections, as well as the landmark Sharjah Declaration on NCDs. The second Global NCD Alliance Forum was held in 2017 and mobilised the NCD civil society community towards the 2018 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. The second Forum presented the Sharjah Awards for Excellence in NCD Civil Society Action to showcase the work being done by NCD alliances to further the Sharjah Declaration. The third Global NCD Alliance Forum will focus on action enablers, translating solutions and what works in the local and national contexts.

For more information about the Forum please contact [email protected]

About the NCD Alliance 

The NCD Alliance is a unique civil society network, dedicated to improving NCD prevention and control worldwide. Today, our network includes NCDA members, national and regional NCD alliances, over 1,000 member associations of our founding federations, scientific and professional associations and academic and research institutions. NCD Alliance is widely recognised as a convenor of the NCD civil society community, providing thought leadership on global policy, setting priorities for the global NCD response, and mobilising civil society.

About Friends of Cancer Patients 

Friends of Cancer Patients is a non-profit Society, founded in 1999 under the directives and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah-UAE, Founder and Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients, International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC and Patron of the Global NCD Alliance Forum. FoCP is committed to helping cancer patients and their families get through the long and arduous journey of cancer treatment. Since its inception, FoCP has delivered moral and financial support to cancer patients and their families, irrespective of their nationality, gender, age, religion or ethnicity. FoCP UAE