The Global Threat of Noncommunicable Diseases

Overall project value

The project’s primary objective is to examine the role of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in national health sector initiatives in the partner countries of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Project description

The majority of deaths globally are caused by NCDs, which include cancer, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases that can cause myocardial infarction, etc. They constitute a rising threat to global health.

Each year, NCDs claim the lives of 17 million people under the age of 70. Because of changing lifestyles and a lack of resources to properly prevent and treat NCDs, morbidity and mortality from NCDs have increased dramatically in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the condition as a result of care delays, disruptions, and the impact of comorbidity.

The project’s objectives are to:

• Perform a mapping exercise, analyse current NCD interventions and strategies used by GIZ, and examine partnerships with other national and international organisations.
• Analyse how NCDs are included into LMICs’ national health programs and policies (within the scope of the SDGs)
• Make suggestions for how NCDs should be anchored in GIZ’s healthcare portfolio, the portfolios of other sectors, or multisectoral strategies.

Scope of Work

Determine the appropriate sectors, areas, and methods for addressing NCDs in GIZ partner countries (based on literature and in exchange with the GIZ teams in HQ and in partner countries of different regions)

• Analysis of international Global Health Initiatives’ involvement in NCDs and possibility for collaboration with GIZ programs
• Overview of the initiatives that GIZ programs could connect to and improve in order to better address NCDs in the national strategies and programs of GIZ partner countries.
• Present case studies and lessons learned as the foundation for conceptualising and planning upcoming NCD-related initiatives and activities that GIZ will carry out and even start.
• Compile the findings of the portfolio analysis by outlining the various interventions and strategies used, the partners and stakeholders engaged, the country or region where they were implemented, and the NCD statistics in the corresponding partner countries.
• Determine the important success factors and takeaways from the current treatments and strategies that could be used in other areas.

Results

Following the mapping exercise and the examination of current NCD-related interventions and strategies, the following conclusions and findings were drawn:

• NCD related activities are sporadic, using opportunities such as sector level prevention campaigns conducted on specific events joining efforts of governments and other national and international organisations.
• Projects specifically addressing NCDs are still the exception and mostly linked with the Hospital Partnership Programme and PPPs.
• There is high potential for a stronger focus on NCDs (including mental health) as the awareness of the urgency of the topic becomes stronger in the international debate on Global Health.
• Involving different public and private sector stakeholders is important to effectively address NCDs.
• It is strongly recommended to establish strategic partnerships at international and national (partner country) level. Partnerships are essential to create synergies and to increase the probability of sustainable impact.