“Localisation.” It’s a term we’ve heard frequently in recent years, but not without its critics—and perhaps rightly so. Many argue that “localisation” doesn’t fully capture the essence of legitimising communities to lead their own health solutions, often implying a top-down transfer rather than a genuine partnership.
Efforts to decentralise humanitarian funding underscore this challenge: the Grand Bargain aimed to allocate 25% of funding to regional and national actors, and USAID set a 2030 target of 30%, yet by 2022, only 1.8% of global funds directly reached them—a decline from prior years.
These gaps highlight the need for sustainable, context-driven solutions led by regional stakeholders, especially in tackling healthcare challenges like noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). When regional leadership drives healthcare delivery, it fosters resilience and ensures culturally relevant, long-lasting systems that continue to serve communities beyond the lifecycle of external programs.
Partnering with National and Regional Stakeholders for Lasting Impact
The key to sustainable healthcare solutions lies in strong, context-specific partnerships. By working with government bodies, healthcare professionals, NGOs, and patient organisations, we create a network that strengthens healthcare systems from the ground up. These alliances ensure accountability, trust, and a shared commitment to long-term improvements in noncommunicable disease management and overall health outcomes.
When regional or national organisations are integral to decision-making processes, it leads to enhanced sustainable healthcare solutions. Community-led initiatives that train and equip professionals help retain knowledge within communities, ensuring healthcare delivery is sustainable and continuously evolving to address future challenges in NCD management.
How NCDconnect Supports Regional Healthcare Leadership
1. Collaborative Engagement and Contextualised Solutions
Without a central global funder or coordinator, effective NCD management requires well-implemented partnerships. To fit this need, NCDconnect adopted an ecosystem approach working closely with communities of practice, Ministries of Health, civil societies, patient advocates, and other stakeholders. This collaborative model allows us to tailor product portfolios to the specific needs of each country.
Aligned with global initiatives such as ATOM, PATH, FIND and Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines & Products, NCDconnect integrates national specifications into its procurement strategy. By leveraging insights from healthcare providers, and tools like demand tracking and market analysis, we develop solutions that address real community needs.
For example, PATH’s subsidised CarePak demonstrates how co-creating with regional stakeholders can result in scalable, sustainable solutions that meet local healthcare needs while supporting long-term resilience (Learn more about the Diabetes CarePak Project).
Such collaborations ensure that the healthcare ecosystem is driven by regional leadership and sustainable local supply chains—minimising reliance on unsustainable upfront investments.
2. Strengthening Regional Manufacturing and Sustainable Healthcare Solutions
At NCDconnect, sustainable procurement is integral to our mission. In alignment with IDA Foundation’s goal to source 20% of products closer to the communities by 2030 (Read more on IDA Foundation’s Communication on Engagement), NCDconnect fosters long-term partnerships with manufacturers that prioritise compliance, proximity, and adaptability to evolving healthcare needs.
These partnerships go beyond transactional relationships, focusing on delivering NCD-specific medical devices and treatments. By working closely with manufacturers, NCDconnect strengthens regional supply chains and addresses regulatory challenges, ensuring consistent access to high-quality NCD products. This approach fosters a resilient healthcare ecosystem rooted in regional leadership and sustainability.
3. Continuous Improvement Grounded in Community Needs
NCDconnect prioritises the voices of healthcare providers, communities and patients by embedding their needs into every stage of its strategy. By tracking outcomes, refining approaches through feedback, and integrating performance data, we ensure that our solutions remain relevant and effective.
Looking ahead, NCDconnect will deepen engagement with regional networks, enhancing knowledge-sharing and expanding collaborative efforts. These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between NCD management efforts and the unique healthcare priorities of each region. This community-centred approach empowers us to create resilient, scalable solutions in noncommunicable disease management that drive real, lasting change where it matters most.