Access Accelerated and the NCD Alliance (NCDA) have partnered since 2018 to drive effective advocacy to enable NCD policies and programs that are shaped by people’s lived experiences. Access Accelerated works with the NCDA to advance its support to NCD alliances and advocates globally through advocacy mobilization opportunities, digital platforms, and capacity development programs that include seed grants, technical assistance, and trainings. Over five years, the partnership has strengthened the capacity of national NCD alliances, ensuring civil society advocacy efforts are strongly grounded in communities and the unique insights of people living with NCDs.Â
The partnership has enabled people living with NCDs to participate in national NCD strategizing and decision making. Advocacy and mobilization efforts have focused on positioning NCDs and people-centered access to treatment, care, and support as a top priority in global and national health and sustainable development agendas, including universal health coverage. With Access Accelerated support, NCDA has supported alliances to conduct national and sub-national level consultations, stakeholder mappings, focus group discussions, policy analyses, and community mobilization as part of strong locally driven advocacy campaigns. These advocacy efforts have contributed to a stronger NCD policy landscape in multiple countries. NCD Alliance facilitated policy change through people living with NCDs contributing to stakeholder and policy dialogues in Ghana, India, Malaysia, Kenya, and Vietnam. All five of these countries have fostered stronger commitments to NCDs in collaboration with various international, regional, and national stakeholders. The flexible funding from Access Accelerated allowed national NCD Alliances to pursue priorities under the UHC agenda, rooted in the perspectives of lived experience.