In this interactive impact journey, we seek to show an incredibly complex process in a simple manner. We list WDF's contribution to major global policy milestones on the one side and provide an overview of how the global NCD agenda has evolved on the other. The ambition is to give an impression of how our efforts in global, regional and local advocacy have played a role in influencing, informing, and advancing the global dialogue on NCDs over the years. Scroll, read, and click to read about the impact of our advocacy efforts since 2002.
WDF is established
2002
WHO initiates the STEPwise approach to surveillance of NCDs
The STEPS guide established a risk-factor surveillance system for countries to strengthen the availability of data to inform, monitor, and evaluate national policies and capacity for NCDs.
The first WDF support to World Health Organization (WHO)
WDF funds the Diabetes Atlas for the first time
The prevalence of diabetes is unknown for most of the global population. Establishing incidence rates were crucial for raising awareness of diabetes among decision-makers and policymakers.
2003
Public-private partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark and WDF enter a public-private partnership on NCDs.
WDF launches Global Diabetes Walk on World Diabetes Day
2004
WDF supports IDF’s ‘Unite for Diabetes’ Campaign
2006
International Diabetes Federation launches the ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign
International Diabetes Federation launched the Unite for Diabetes campaign aimed at placing diabetes on the global agenda and increase awareness of the disease and patient education.
UN adopts November 14th as World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day (WDD) was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the WHO in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. WDD became an official UN Day in 2006 with the passage of UN Resolution 61/225.
Regional Diabetes Summits in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to put NCDs on the agenda
2006 - 2010
127 projects covering 44 countries
2007
NCD Alliance is established
The Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance brought together the International Diabetes Federation, World Heart Federation, International Union for Cancer Control, and The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease with the vision of convening a new global NCD civil society movement to confront the misconceptions about NCDs and catalyse political action.
2009
WDF co-hosts ‘The Emerging Burden of Chronic Diseases and its Impact on Developing Countries’ conference
2010
First ever UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs
The UN General Assembly’ s first High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs in 2011 provided an opportunity to recast the global health agenda and offered a platform to mobilise political will for action.
2011
WDF organises the first UN expert meeting on Indigenous Peoples and NCDs
2012
323 projects covering 83 countries
2013
WHO Global Action Plan for NCDs
The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020 (GAP) was created with the vision of “a world free of the avoidable burden of NCDs”. It was a critical component of the global NCD architecture and a clear roadmap for action to reach the global targets for NCDs by 2025.
Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development
The Addis Agenda provided a new global framework for financing sustainable development. The aim was to align all financing flows and policies with the vision outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda also called upon philanthropies to align and commit further investment.
2015
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are launched
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a global target for NCDs – target 3.4 – which aims to reduce the risk of premature death among people aged 30–69 years by one third by 2030.
WDF supports the global policy initiatives that transform the landscape of NCDs
2015 - 2017
WDF one of the first supporters for WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs
2016
WHO Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs
The Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of NCDs was the first WHO instrument aimed at facilitating multistakeholder engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration to prevent and control NCDs, including the engagement with non-state actors (civil society, private sector, and philanthropies) such as WDF.
502 projects covering 99 countries
2017
WDF supports the ‘Sustainable Financing of NCD Prevention and Control’ conference
2018
Third UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs
The meeting undertook a comprehensive review of the global and national progress achieved in putting measures in place that protect people from dying too young from NCDs.
First UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage
The meeting led to world leaders endorsing an ambitious political declaration on health, as they committed to ensuring that by 2030 everyone in their country would receive all the quality health services, they need, without suffering financial hardship.
2019
Scaling up interventions with UNHCR, and partners in Tanzania, Jordan, and Lebanon
Large scale partnerships with governments, international humanitarian and development actors increase WDF’s impact at country level and visibility at the global policy level.
2019 - 2021
Global Diabetes Compact
On the 100-year anniversary of insulin discovery, the WHO launched the Global Diabetes Compact - a global initiative to reduce the risk of diabetes and to ensure that all people diagnosed have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality treatment and care.
2021
595 projects in 119 countries
2022
World Health Assembly adopts first ever Diabetes Targets
For the first time ever, WHO Member States supported the endorsement of global targets for diabetes, as part of recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national NCD programmes.
WDF supports WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact
The WHO Global Diabetes Compact has the vision of reducing the risk of diabetes and ensuring that all people who are diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality treatment and care.
2023
NCDs are included in three resolutions endorsed by UN Member States
Health was on the agenda of the world’s political leaders with three UN High-Level Meetings focused on universal health coverage; pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response; and tuberculosis. NCDs was included in all three resolutions endorsed by Member States.
WDF supports the ‘Global High-level Meeting on NCDs in Humanitarian Settings’
2024
Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs
The fourth UN High-Level Meeting will focus on evaluating the progress achieved to reduce NCDs since the third High-Level Meeting in 2018 and discuss the policy solutions needed to achieve the global targets set for 2030.
2025