The World Cancer Congress 2014 was immensely successful for NCDs, with links being drawn from cancer to the broader NCD agenda from start to finish. The NCD Alliance team had a strong presence at WCC, with numerous sessions highlighting NCD-related issues, and dynamic, interactive discussions at the NCD Cafe, organised by NCD Alliance supporters.

Following on from two core NCD sessions which took place earlier in the week, a panel discussion on capacity building to support civil society action on NCDs was held on the last day of the Congress. Speakers included Ambassador Sally Cowal, Senior Vice President of Global Health at the American Cancer Society, Katie Dain, Executive Director of the NCD Alliance; Constance Kekihembo, CEO of the Uganda NCD Alliance; Kirsten Haugland, Assistant Secretary General of the Norwegian Cancer Society; and Rebecca Morton Doherty, Advocacy and Programmes Coordination Manager at UICC.

The NCD Alliance is supporting capacity building with tools and information centred around advocacy, service delivery, and accountability, and UICC focuses on convening members for knowledge exchange and global capacity building. The audience also heard directly from the Ugandan and Norwegian representatives on priorities at the national level, development of an East Africa Civil Society NCD Charter, and a focus on cooperation with the Norwegian government.

Read more