Where we work
Zambia
Project Title - Enhancing youth health through governance and policy for NCD and mental health prevention.
Project Duration - May 2025 – April 2028
UN system implementing partner(s) - WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank
Government implementing partner(s) - Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
Civil society implementing partner(s) - CIDRZ, Zambia NCD Alliance, The Youth Platform
Grant amount - USD 999,065.42
Project summary and catalytic impact
This project seeks to address the rising burden of NCDs and mental health conditions among adolescents and youth aged 10–29 in Zambia, by targeting the major behavioral risk factors of tobacco use, alcohol misuse, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets. It aims to strengthen the legal and policy environment through revision of the Liquor Licensing Act of 2011 and the National Alcohol Policy, as well as supporting the enactment of comprehensive tobacco control legislation aligned with the WHO FCTC. Complementary measures will establish standards and regulations to curb the sale of unhealthy foods, including sugar-sweetened beverages. School- and community-based interventions, combined with innovative approaches in vocational centers and universities, will embed behavior change models and integrate NCD prevention into curricula. In parallel, health systems capacity will be expanded through training of healthcare workers in mental health service delivery, while digital tools and public awareness campaigns will be deployed to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce stigma.
The catalytic potential of this project lies in its multisectoral approach, implemented under the National Health in All Policies Framework (2022–2026), which ensures collaboration across health, education, trade, youth, and local governance sectors. By integrating prevention and service delivery into schools, communities, and primary health care, the project will expand equitable access to counseling and youth-focused services, while generating sustained demand through advocacy and public engagement. Vulnerable groups, particularly adolescents, are at the core of the intervention, with an emphasis on reducing early adoption of risk behaviors that drive premature adult mortality. Expected outcomes include a strengthened regulatory framework, increased awareness of NCD risks, improved mental health services for youth, and greater public and political support for sustained investment in prevention.
Rwanda
Project Title - Building an integrated, efficient, resilient system to expand equitable access to NCD and mental health services across the life course.
Project Duration - December 2024 – November 2026
UN system implementing partner(s) - WHO, UNICEF, ILO, UNHCR
Government implementing partner(s) - Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center
Civil society implementing partner(s) - Rwanda NCD Alliance, Partners in Health (PIH), Uyisenga Ni Imanzi, YWCA
Grant amount - USD 999,915
Project summary and catalytic impact
This project aims to strengthen Rwanda’s health system response to NCDs and mental health conditions by developing integrated, people-centered models of care across the life course. It will be piloted through schools, workplaces, health facilities, and community structures, and supported by multisectoral coordination mechanisms. Building on the country’s existing robust health system and universal health coverage platform, interventions will expand equitable access to gender- and age-responsive services, supported by service packages, protocols, and tools that integrate NCD and mental health care into primary care and beyond. In recognition of the long-term effects of the 1994 genocide, the project will embed trauma-informed and community-sensitive approaches within service delivery.
The project’s catalytic impact lies in its ability to institutionalize multisectoral care models, embedding NCD and mental health services into national service packages, school health programs, and workplace wellness initiatives. By advocating for increased domestic and external financing, and for inclusion of NCD and mental health care in insurance benefit packages, the project will create sustainable pathways for scale-up. Cross-sectoral engagement with education, labor, and humanitarian actors (including through ILO and UNHCR support) will ensure that the needs of displaced and vulnerable populations are addressed, while civil society partners will support advocacy and service uptake among youth, women, and genocide survivors. This project will reinforce equity, resilience, and accountability across the health system, accelerating progress towards SDG 3.4.
Papua New Guinea
Project Title - Strengthening National Capacity and Multisectoral Commitment to Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention in Papua New Guinea.
Project Duration - October 2025 – September 2028
UN system implementing partner(s) - WHO, UNDP, UNICEF
Government implementing partner(s) - National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities, PNG Institute of Medical Research
Civil society implementing partner(s) - University of PNG UPNG, Youth Council Network
Grant amount - USD 845,835
Project summary and catalytic impact
This project will strengthen the national response to NCDs by addressing data and governance gaps, empowering youth, and piloting innovative financing approaches in Papua New Guinea. It will modernize the surveillance system through implementation of a WHO STEPS survey and integration of NCD indicators into routine health information systems, ensuring a sustainable evidence base for planning and monitoring. In parallel, the project will develop an NCD investment case to guide political prioritization and resource allocation, while piloting multisectoral budgeting mechanisms to foster policy coherence and shared accountability. Youth will be engaged as active partners through participatory action research, advocacy, and peer-led prevention initiatives, ensuring that interventions reflect community perspectives and address intergenerational health challenges.
The catalytic impact of this project derives from its coherent, system-wide approach, which combines strengthened data systems, innovative fiscal planning, and inclusive governance. By embedding NCD prevention and financing into multisectoral frameworks and engaging youth, women, and undeserved populations, the project will drive equity and sustainability while fostering stronger social demand for action. Partnerships between government, UN agencies, and academic institutions provide a strong delivery platform and signal political readiness for reform. If successful, this initiative will establish a replicable model for data-driven, youth-engaged, and fiscally sustainable NCD prevention in Papua New Guinea, catalyzing broader health system transformation.Sierra Leone
Project Title - Building sustainable funding and Investment mechanisms for NCD Prevention and Control in Sierra Leone
Project Duration - January 2026 – December 2028
UN system implementing partner(s) - WHO, UNDP, UNICEF
Government implementing partner(s) - Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance
Civil society implementing partner(s) - Sierra Leone NCD Alliance
Grant amount - USD 849,953
Project summary and catalytic impact
This project focuses on building sustainable financing and investment mechanisms for NCD prevention and control in Sierra Leone through structural, fiscal, and governance reforms. Core interventions include integrating essential NCD services into the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance and the Free Health Care Initiative, anchoring NCD priorities in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Programme-Based Budgeting, and strengthening domestic resource mobilization through health-promoting excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The project will also support development of a national NCD policy and operational plan, a dedicated investment strategy, and strengthened governance and clinical capacity for delivering the Essential Health Service Package at the district level.
The catalytic dimension of the project lies in embedding NCD financing and service delivery into national systems, thereby safeguarding sustainability against donor volatility and ensuring financial protection. Upstream reforms will institutionalize NCDs in planning and budgeting processes, while downstream measures will enhance primary health care integration and build district management capacity, with a focus on equity and inclusion of women, youth, and underserved communities. Cross-sectoral collaboration with ministries of health and finance, and the leveraging of co-financing commitments from the government, WHO, and UNDP, demonstrate strong national ownership and high-level political commitment. By linking fiscal strategies to health outcomes, the project will secure durable domestic investment and strengthen accountability, enabling Sierra Leone to advance towards UHC and SDG 3.4.
Lao PDR
Project Title - Transforming NCD Care through Health System Strengthening in Lao PDR
Project Duration - October 2025 – September 2027
UN system implementing partner(s) - WHO, UNDP, UNICEF
Government implementing partner(s) - Ministry of Health, Ministry of Sports and Education, Ministry of Finance
Grant amount - USD 850,000
Project summary and catalytic impact
This project proposes a comprehensive strategy to strengthen NCD care and prevention in Lao PDR by scaling up primary health care readiness, establishing a national NCD surveillance system, and driving multisectoral action through a costed national plan. It will roll out the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) in three provinces, embed an NCD module into the national DHIS2 platform, and co-develop with government and civil society a multisectoral action plan that includes a sustainable financing strategy. Complementary youth-led behavior change initiatives will promote healthier lifestyles, strengthen community demand for services, and foster accountability. The project prioritizes equity, focusing on underserved groups including rural populations, women, ethnic minorities, and adolescents at increasing risk of NCDs. The catalytic potential lies in bridging systemic gaps that have hindered Lao PDR’s NCD response: weak surveillance, limited financing, and inequitable access. By embedding NCD prevention into PHC, enhancing governance and financing mechanisms, and leveraging youth engagement for advocacy and demand generation, the project will create the conditions for scale and sustainability. Cross-sectoral collaboration with ministries of health, finance, and education will ensure coherence across policy domains, while civil society participation strengthens ownership and inclusivity. Anchored in strong government leadership, the proposal aligns with UHC and SDG 3.4, and demonstrates readiness for early and measurable impact through integrated, equity-driven action.