The Advocacy Institute Accelerator Programme is a multi-year initiative that seeks to increase the capacity of selected and established national NCD alliances to drive effective in-country advocacy on NCD prevention, control and UHC.
The alliances on board of the Accelerator Programme have access to grant funding of strategic advocacy efforts.Each Accelerator Programme partner works towards creating and assessing windows of opportunity and develop tailored advocacy strategies to advance policy change on NCD prevention, control and/or UHC. The NCDA Capacity Development team conducts regular monitoring and evaluation to assess progress and achievements, and provides in-depth technical assistance. Examples of activities are detailed below.
Mexico, Rwanda, Tanzania: driving effective in-country advocacy for NCDs and UHC
In 2020, NCD alliances in Mexico, Rwanda and Tanzania conducted detailed situational analyses recognising the main policy gaps and opportunities for UHC and NCDs advocacy in their countries. These reports are the base for the formulation of the main advocacy priorities and plans, to be carried out during 2021-2022.
Early in 2021, the three countries organised high-level national stakeholder meetings to discuss with government representatives, policy makers, civil society and people living with NCDs the results of their analyses and ways of advancing UHC and NCD policies. You can read more about the high-level meetings held here.
Their work in 2021 is focusing on the formulation of concrete advocacy plans as well as conducting advocacy activities.
The work of alliances in Mexico, Rwanda and Tanzania is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with the Leona B. and Harry M. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Egypt, Japan and Malaysia: Strengthening healthcare workforce for NCDs and UHC
The work of the alliances in Egypt, Japan and Malaysia has a specific focus on the strengthening of healthcare workforce in the context of NCDs and UHC in the countries.
In 2020, the three alliances conducted situational analyses on this specific topic, recognising the main policy challenges, gaps and opportunities to strengthen national healthcare workforce as part of an effective NCD and UHC response.
Their work in 2021 will focus on dissemination and advocacy activities to promote the results of the reports.
The work of alliances in Egypt, Japan and Malaysia is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with Viatris.
Ethiopia: establishing strategic advocacy NCDs and UHC
Ethiopia has joined the NCDs and UHC Accelerator Programme as part of the expansion of the Advocacy Institute in 2021. In the first year of the support, the alliance will focus on conducting national situational analysis to recognise main gaps and advocacy priorities for future advocacy work.
The work of the alliances in Ethiopia is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Ghana, India, Kenya, Vietnam: Ensuring meaningful involvement of people living with NCDs within the attainment of UHC
The work of alliances in Ghana, India, Kenya and Vietnam focussed on prioritising NCDs within UHC with emphasis on the needs and priorities of people living with NCDs.
In 2020, NCD alliances in Ghana, Kenya and India conducted comprehensive situational analyses of NCD prevention and control within the UHC framework, with results published in various policy briefs and reports. These advocacy efforts were further strengthened by engaging and amplifying the voices of people living with NCDs.
In 2021, the NCD alliance in Vietnam developed and released the National Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs based on extensive consultation and recommnedations of people living with NCDs which specifically highlighted the need to strengthen prevention strategies to ensure access to healthcare for all. The alliance plans to use this Agenda to expand the network of people living with NCDs and mobilize them to advocate for national laws on medical examination and treatment and health insurance.
In 2021, alliances are pursuing specific advocacy goals based on their situational analyses, and further advocacy entry points and opportunities. Both Kenya and India plan to roll out and disseminate key advocacy reports and campaigns. In July, the Ministry of Health in Kenya launched its new National Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs which involved two representatives of NCD Alliance Kenya’s Caucus of People Living with NCDs in the Ministry of Health’s technical working group that developed the Strategy.
Ghana plans to implement the situational analysis report by reducing health expenditure through prioritizing UHC for NCDs, making investing cases for revenue mobilization for NCDs through social accountability projects.
The work of the alliances in Ghana, India, Kenya and Vietnam is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with Access Accelerated.
Launched in 2021, the four alliances participating in the NCD Prevention Accelerator Programme will focus on advocating for effective policy response to concrete NCD risk factors:
As part of the multi-year support, the alliances will conduct the following activities:
The work of Ghana NCD Alliance is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The work of alliances in Mexico, India and the Philippines is supported thanks to NCDA’s partnership with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
First phase of the Accelerator Programme (2017 – 2019)
The first phase of the Accelerator programme focused on developing a three-year advocacy plan on different NCD prevention and control priorities.
For highlights of the results and policy wins achieved throughout the first phase of the Accelerator Programme, please read the impact report here.