The time to act on non-communicable diseases is now.
Global Action
The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) draws together 12 major global funding agencies that specifically address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries through implementation science. Together, the members of the alliance represent 80% of global public funding for health research.
GACD’s mission is to reduce the burden of NCDs in low-and middle-income countries, and in indigenous populations facing conditions of vulnerability in high-income countries, by building evidence to inform national and international NCD policies and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals under section 3.4.
Since our launch in 2009, our Associate Members have funded over $223 million of research in priority areas including hypertension, diabetes, lung diseases and mental health.
Collective action
Through collaborating on mutual goals, exploring new approaches and insights, and pushing boundaries collectively, researchers across GACD projects are united in their action on NCDs.
GACD working groups are a pivotal mechanism in facilitating ongoing collaborations across geographic and institutional borders tackling common issues across diseases, contexts, interventions, methodologies, and outcomes.
For example, the GACD NCD Multimorbidity working group aims to investigate issues related to multimorbidity. In 2018, the working group published a researchers’ statement on multimorbidity concluding that:
“[…] a greater focus on multimorbidity is overdue and necessary to successfully improve global health outcomes.”
- GACD NCD Multimorbidity Working Group (2018)
More recently, this working group developed and published an open access policy brief to provide funders and policymakers with the evidence and actions needed to tackle the burden of multimorbidity in low- and middle-income countries.
Future action
GACD is committed to supporting research undertaken through genuine partnership among high and low/middle-income country academics, policymakers, local authorities, and community groups.
We also recognise that for sustainable action, diverse groups – including academia, civil society, private sector, and people living with NCDs – all have a role to play in reaching shared goals, such as better health for all, improved access to healthcare, and environments that make it easier to enjoy physical activity and healthy food.
GACD’s next three research funding calls will target multimorbidity and common NCD risk factors and will encourage applicants to develop proposals for research questions driven by local stakeholders.
Actions can be big or small – the power of the Global Week for Action on NCDs comes through collaboration towards a common goal: increasing health and equity around the world. Find out more about NCD Alliance’s campaign.