NCD ’ s at the UN: Advocacy, Action, and Next Steps Ariella Rojhani October 20, 2011

NCD’s at the UN: Advocacy, Action, and Next Steps Ariella Rojhani October 20, 2011

Topics for Discussion • Background on The NCD Alliance • The High-level Meeting (HLM) • The Political Declaration • Next Steps • NGO/CSW engagement

Background on the NCD Alliance • Purpose of NCDA • Structure: • 4 federations • UN Summit Partners Group (UNSPG) • NCDA Staff • Common Interest Group (CIG) • Supporters Group • Over 2000 member organizations in 170 countries • How we define NCDs • Key areas of work • Advocacy • Research and policy

Preparing for the High-level Meeting • Background • UN resolutions • Preparatory advocacy efforts • CSW, CSocD side events • Technical briefings for Member States • Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples • NCDA Proposed Outcomes Document (POD) • 34 technical and political targets • In-country advocacy through member organizations

HLM: September 19-20, 2011 • Highlights: • A 2-day meeting • Outstanding Member State, civil society participation • 31 Heads of State, 133 MS statements • NCDs now on the global development agenda • Strong focus on the next steps • Adoption of the Political Declaration • Specific commitments by 43 Member States • Russia: US $60m to NCDs in low-income countries • Australia: US $3.9m towards WHO’s NCD Action Plan • Robust side events

HLM, cont’d • Lowlights: • No major new funding for NCDs • Lack of discussion around solutions • WHO ‘best buys’ came too late, focus was on the problem • Too few champion countries • Need increased public engagement

The Political Declaration • Negotiation process • Co-facilitators: Luxembourg and Jamaica • Zero draft: End of June • Negotiations: July through mid-August • Concluded: September 7th via silent procedure • Negotiated mostly by blocs • EU, G77, US, Canada, NZ, Australia, Russia, Mexico, Switzerland, Norway, Holy See, Japan • More challenging than expected • Not technical experts • Lack of data (WHO, WEF) • Driven by trade, foreign affairs ministries

Contentious issues in PD • Defining NCDs • 4 by 4; recognize mental health, oral, renal, & eye disease • Use of the word “epidemic” • “A challenge of epidemic proportions” • Commitment of resources • Nothing new, no new fund • Targets, indicators, and monitoring framework • No specifics, now under development • Follow-up • Partnership options by end of 2012, SG report to GA in 2013, comprehensive review in 2014 • Access to medicine and TRIPS

Strengths and Weaknesses of the PD • Strengths: • NCDs as a global development issue, IADGs • Prevention as “cornerstone” • Reduction of exposure to risk factors, including elimination of industrially-produced transfats • NCDs as a national priority, including nat’l NCD plans • Women and children • Early detection, screening, and vaccines • Tobacco taxation • Indigenous peoples language • Creating health-promoting environments • Multi-sectoral partnership • Health systems strengthening

Strengths and Weaknesses of the PD • Weaknesses • No overarching goal to reduce preventable deaths • No specific, time-bound targets • Alcohol language • Marketing of unhealthy foods to children • No new resources • No specific partnership outline

Immediate NCDA Priorities and Objectives • Following up on the HLM/PD outcomes • WHO targets, indicators, and monitoring framework • Partnership development • Sustained political commitment and NCDs on the broader international political agenda • UN, other external meetings (e.g. Social Determinants in Rio, G-20) • Engaging new stakeholders • NGO/CSW subcommittee on health • NCDA organizational evaluation and review

Thank you! www.ncdalliance.org

NCD ’ s at the UN: Advocacy, Action, and Next Steps Ariella Rojhani October 20, 2011