A silent epidemic, NCDs affect millions. Today, heart disease is the leading global killer, with nearly 80% of cardiovascular deaths occurring in poor countries. Three risk factors (tobacco use, poor diets and inadequate physical activity) account for four diseases – heart disease, type II diabetes, lung disease and cancers – that kill 6 out of every 10 people worldwide.

Global advocacy

There is emerging consensus that NCDs are a development issue that disproportionately affects the poor but receives less than 1% of total global health funding. There are important new questions as to whether NCD indicators should be integrated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – and if so, what are the highest priority interventions and objectives? Figuring out the best-buys and political economy of this development is a unique opportunity for the group and we have the rare invitation to participate rather than sit on the sidelines.

Social movement to battle NCDs

There is a mistaken belief that NCDs do not capture the interest of the millennial generation – that the diseases are self-inflicted and the fault of the victim. We challenge this view, engineering a global social movement on NCDs using student and trainee networks, particularly in academic institutions in resource-poor settings (e.g. Rwanda, Liberia, Tanzania, South Africa and India).

How we do it

NCD Action and YP-CDN addresses these local and global needs by building networks, campaigns, and projects that are both grassroots and globally focused. We encourage our members to share their ideas, passions, and expertise, and in doing so, help them turn their creative passion into real-world projects that have measurable impact on the local and global burden of NCDs.

Informing policy change and driving research

The YP-CDN global professional network promotes research, policy, and advocacy targeting NCDs.

Driving social change and inspiring action

NCD Action Network is a grass-roots movement of young people, students, and concerned citizens taking local and global action on NCDs.

Building local communities

The 3T project - monthly gatherings throughout the world – connects the experiences and ideas of local communities with the wider global network, harnessing a powerful local-to-global model for action.