From 13 to 15 November 2015, more than 200 delegates attended the Global NCD Alliance Forum in Sharjah (UAE). ECDA was delighted to be present at the Forum and to contribute by co-leading the workshop How to work effectively as an alliance and find common ground for increased impact, along with the Patient Health Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (South Africa) and the British Richmond Group of Charities (United Kingdom).

At the workshop Emilia Miloiu, Secretariat Manager of ECDA, spoke on behalf of the Alliance about

The Power and Effectiveness of Regional Coalitions – experiences from the European Chronic Diseases Alliance

Representing the convened national and regional NCD alliances, the Forum culminated in adoption of the “Sharjah Declaration on NCDs: Civil Society United Towards 2030“. The Sharjah Declaration is a global expression of NCD civil society’s commitment to engage in advocacy and accountability to advance the NCD response, and ECDA is proud to have played a pivotal role in its finalization.

The Forum was a successful example of knowledge sharing, networking and advocacy strengthening. Discussions at the Forum highlighted the opportunities for civil society alliances to play a crucial role in NCD advocacy and accountability. By working together and pooling leadership, technical expertise, resources and networks around a common agenda, NCD alliances are translating global commitments to national and regional action on NCDs.