From strategic partnerships and project expansions to increased access to quality care and strong community engagement in low-resource settings, it has been a year of promising change. Here are our highlights.
19 November 2024 Andreea Enea
Innovative projects, high-level advocacy, and global partnerships have marked this year of promising progress towards our shared mission to tackle the diabetes burden in low-resource settings and support people in leading more dignified lives.
As we close this year, we're proud to have around 90 active projects globally, with more than 15 new projects signed in 2024! Moreover, we've had the pleasure of welcoming eight new colleagues into our diverse team.
This review of WDF's 2024 is meant to celebrate our work together, the power of united efforts and shared commitment to catalyse change in the face of global health challenges.
WDF’s 2024 Fundraiser in Georgia
As 2024 began, we kicked off this year's fundraising project, 'DiabetesCare360', aiming to support 1,500 children and youth with type 1 diabetes from rural Georgia. The project focuses on providing diabetes management training and fostering a sense of community through organised dedicated camps and a digital education platform for children and their caregivers.
The 3rd North East India Annual Diabetes Conference
We joined our partners and the WHO India office at this annual conference to share insights and best practices from our state-wide programme in Assam for strengthening diabetes and hypertension services. A wonderful highlight of this third edition of the annual conference was the launch of a book featuring various stories of local champions driving demand for better NCD care, who have been part of the programme.
Global High-Level Technical Meeting on NCDs in Humanitarian Settings
Co-organised by WHO and UNHCR, and hosted by Denmark, Jordan, and Kenya, this meeting increased political momentum for improved inclusion of NCD care in humanitarian responses. The discussions inform the 2024 UN progress report and the 2025 Fourth UN High-level Meeting on NCDs. We joined several of the panels, reaffirming our commitment and reflecting on WDF’s approach.
The 2024 fundraising project aims to empower 1500 children and youth with type 1 diabetes in rural Georgia
The 2024 fundraising project aims to empower 1500 children and youth with type 1 diabetes in rural Georgia.
New WDF-NNF strategic partnership
We announced a strategic partnership with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, marking a new phase in our collaboration and major progress in our shared mission. The Partnership Framework Agreement (2024-2030) grants DKK 260 million to WDF to expand our scope and impact in countries hardest hit by the increasing diabetes crisis.
WDF meets OECD
WDF's Board met with Carsten Staur, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, to discuss the role of private philanthropic foundations in global health. The meeting stressed the need for resilient health services and aligning funding with integrated primary healthcare, setting the stage for collaboration ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
Scale-up launch in rural Nepal
We have launched a project to bring essential services closer to those living with diabetes and hypertension in rural Nepal. Led by the Nepal Development Society, the scale-up aims to expand the crucial role of local Female Community Health Volunteers in improving NCD control and social trust, building on the pilot’s success and community feedback.
Women in Nepal have become promising agents of change, improving control of type 2 diabetes and social trust
Women in Nepal have become promising agents of change, improving control of type 2 diabetes and social trust.
WDF’s first Impact Report
2024 marked a significant milestone with the release of our first-ever Impact Report. This platform aims to start a conversation about the impact of our partnerships, showcase our contributions to such changes, and encourage collaboration for sustainable health system transformations to address diabetes and related NCDs in low-resource settings.
Visit to Ethiopia
We travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to engage with partners and stakeholders of the Senselet project. The initiative by Addis Ababa University, supported by WDF, aims to strengthen NCD medicine supply chains in remote areas of Ethiopia. The visit allowed us to meet with the people involved, from PhD scholars to pharmacists, warehouse managers and truck drivers, and see the project's potential.
First visit to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
For the first time, we visited our current partners in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, including the WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO Country Offices, and Ministries of Health. The current project focuses on capacity building and training in integrated NCD management. This task-shifting approach allows patients to access local, team-based care at local health facilities.
Healthier Together series
The ‘Healthier Together’ film series was launched to advocate for transformative initiatives to address health equity. Presented by the WHO Foundation and produced by BBC StoryWorks, the series features WDF and partners in Jordan, highlighting the importance of united efforts to improve NCD prevention and access to care for both refugee populations and host communities.
Welcome to WDF's first ever Impact Report, where you can explore various stories of change we have supported in the low- and middle-income countries
Welcome to WDF's first ever Impact Report, where you can explore various stories of change we have supported in the low- and middle-income countries.
World Health Assembly 2024
At the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, we co-hosted a side event with FIND on integrating diabetes and tuberculosis care. The event underscored the need for routine bi-directional screening, more research, community-focused care models, and digital health solutions. The event featured insights from experts and called for breaking down silos and fostering multi-sector collaboration. In another WHA event, we highlighted the role of philanthropy in advancing diabetes care, drawing from over 20 years of experience supporting partners.
Eight-year partnership in Armenia
Our visit to Armenia saw the launch of the third phase of the national diabetes management and prevention programme by the Ministry of Health and the Armenian EyeCare Project, marking an amazing milestone in our eight-year partnership. Later in the year, WDF was honoured by The Armenian EyeCare Project for our contributions, which include three funded projects that have screened over 60,000 people, provided treatment for thousands, and offered training in diabetes management.
Liberia’s national NCD response
The first phase of Liberia's national diabetes response has completed. This marks a decade-long journey from a local initiative by a faith-based hospital to a comprehensive national response to NCDs led by the Ministry of Health. This progress, achieved through a resilient partnership, has improved diabetes care in the country's most remote areas. The real impact is best understood through the stories shared by partners, patients, healthcare providers, and authorities, in this in-depth article.
Liberia has taken a bold step in tackling NCDs with the first phase of a national diabetes response
Liberia has taken a bold step in tackling NCDs with the first phase of a national diabetes response. At completion, we explore the challenges and milestones of a decade-long journey.
Advocating for sustainable financing
WDF participated in The International Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for NCDs and Mental Health in Washington DC, hosted by the World Bank and co-organised with WHO. The event emphasised the need for increased funding, integrated primary care, and larger partnerships, and saw several countries acknowledge WDF's long-term support. As one of the few non-state actors invited, we appreciated the opportunity to engage in this critical dialogue.
Visit to Mexico
We evaluated our progress and discussed future plans with local partners during a visit to Mexico. Our initiatives, which include developing clinical pathways and school-based diabetes education programmes, have resulted in the training of nearly 3,000 healthcare professionals, engagement of over 47,000 individuals, strengthening of over 5,000 health facilities, and screening of over 84,000 people for diabetes and related NCDs.
NCD scale-up in Malawi
The summer began with the official launch of the third phase of the national NCD response in Malawi, an ambitious scale-up prioritising people with chronic conditions like type 1 diabetes. The programme builds on the outcomes and lessons learned from 12 WDF-funded projects in the country and will expand access to NCD care at the primary level, in underserved communities. It also marks a decade of successful collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Malawi's Ministry of Health and partners launch the third phase of the national NCD response, focusing on type 1 diabetes
Malawi's Ministry of Health and partners launch the third phase of the national NCD response, focusing on type 1 diabetes.
Digital solutions in Sri Lanka and Tanzania
In collaboration with RTI International Center for Global NCDs and the Ministries of Health in Sri Lanka and Tanzania, we conducted a study to explore the potential of digital technology like the Diabetes Compass solutions to address gaps in diabetes care in the two countries. The study highlights common challenges and the potential of digital solutions to enhance early detection, diagnosis, and secondary prevention of complications, as well as the overall patient experience.
Zimbabwean advocacy for men’s health
The project led by SolidarMed in Zimbabwe focuses on decentralising diabetes care at primary level in three districts in the Masvingo Province. During our visit, we discovered a unique outcome of the project: a patient self-support group composed solely of men have not only improved their diabetes control but also united to advocate for diabetes awareness and education among other men. This group is helping to break societal norms that often prevent men from seeking healthcare.
WHO-AFRO meeting
WDF attended the 74th Regional Committee meeting of the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Health Ministers of all 47 Member States discussed the diabetes burden and other major health challenges in the region. A key outcome was the endorsement of the 'Framework for the implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in the WHO African region' to tackle these challenges and ensure affordable quality care.
Progress in Benin
Our partner Diabète Bénin, following the WHO PEN strategy and with support from the Ministry of Health, has made great progress in Benin since 2022. Over 1,500 healthcare providers have been trained, over 500 health facilities have been equipped, and over 60,000 individuals have been screened as part of the current project. Our visit highlighted the sustained success of our partners in Benin, with clinics active over a decade. Thanks to major support from healthcare providers and the Ministry of Health, the project expanded from six to ten departments.
Healthier generations in Cambodia
We visited Cambodia at the end of the summer to discuss the newly launched project targeting 150 schools and their communities in four provinces to ensure healthy nutrition and food safety for children in schools. Supported by a grant of USD 1.5 million, the project aims to prevent NCDs and promote children's well-being by cultivating health-enabling environments with the participation of everyone – parents, children, teachers, authorities, and school food vendors. More about the ambitious scale-up project in Cambodia here.
An ambitious project in Cambodia aims to transform the lives of children in 150 schools by ensuring balanced and safe nutrition for the young minds, from classrooms to dining tables
An ambitious project in Cambodia aims to transform the lives of children in 150 schools by ensuring balanced and safe nutrition for the young minds, from classrooms to dining tables.
Progress in Jordan
Jordan has made great progress in integrating type 1 diabetes care into the national health system under the Changing Diabetes in Children programme, a global partnership that includes WDF. During our visit in September, we also toured a project co-funded with NNF that integrates NCD care in humanitarian responses, discussed future priorities with the Minister of Health, and visited the Al Zaatari refugee camp, home to nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, where NCD services are provided.
United Nations General Assembly
WDF and key partners attended this year’s UN General Assembly to discuss the economic impact of NCDs on individuals, health budgets, and economic growth in Africa. WDF, Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Government of Denmark co-hosted the 'Pathways to Progress' event focused on mobilising resources, prioritising primary prevention and quality care, and fostering public-private partnerships to address NCDs on the African continent.
Impact-first investments
We presented WDF’s Diabetes Investment Accelerator at the Social Outcomes Conference, Oxford. The project aims to explore, implement, and scale innovative financing mechanisms to address the growing burden of diabetes and related NCDs in low-resource settings. This event set the stage for the Global Impact Investing Network's Forum 2024 in Amsterdam, where our team met with healthcare impact investors, foundations, and entrepreneurs to discuss investments in diabetes prevention and care.
Landmark NCD project in India
We visited key partners in India, such as Jhpiego and the Maternity Foundation, for gestational diabetes projects in Madhya Pradesh. We also engaged with the WHO India team and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and visited health facilities to discuss with the medical staff and patients. The visit was part of the launch of a landmark project strengthening NCD care in India to provide timely care for 75 million people with diabetes and hypertension by 2025. It marks the first time WDF supports a national-level project in India, enabling an unprecedented scale of change.
First-ever WHO Investment Round
We had the honour to be on stage alongside global health leaders and funders at WHO’s first-ever Investment Round during the World Health Summit 2024 in Berlin, where we announced a USD 10 million contribution in support of WHO’s leadership efforts in addressing the global NCD burden through its 14th General Programme of Work 2025-2028.
South Africa’s Ministry of Health at WDF
We had the privilege to host South Africa’s National Department of Health with the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and discuss their recently approved national project, focusing on governance, capacity building, community empowerment, and NCD surveillance. South Africa’s Ambassador to Denmark was also present during the visit to our office.
Scaling eye care in Mongolia and Peru
In Northern Peru, our partners are successfully expanding an integrated diabetic retinopathy care model, with over 2,400 people with diabetes screened so far, showing a 34% prevalence. Meanwhile, in Mongolia, our partners are building a sustainable model for diabetes and diabetic retinopathy screening and care, helping screen around 20,000 patients and equipping secondary diabetes hospitals and ophthalmology clinics. Both projects have their Ministry of Health’s involvement and are led by Orbis.
World Diabetes Day
November was special due to the celebration of World Diabetes Day. This year's theme is 'Diabetes and well-being' and we talked to Elsa Morandat, WDF's Head of Policy and Programmes, about the importance of a health promotion approach beyond diabetes prevention.
20 years of Global Diabetes Walk
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Global Diabetes Walk, our global diabetes awareness-raising campaign. Every November, we join our partners and tens of thousands of people, organising walks to raise awareness. This year, more than 60 countries joined our campaign, and more the 50,000 people participated!
Digital Health Week
During Digital Health Week, we went live with our data-driven, algorithm-based screening app for early detection of diabetes and hypertension in Sri Lanka. We have also successfully implemented an electronic medical registry in Rwanda for type 1 diabetes management.
Global Diabetes Compact Forum
At the Global Diabetes Compact Forum attended by key WHO African Region partners, we had the unique opportunity to showcase WDF’s approach and highlight our support to Africa, where over EUR 100 million has been granted by WDF across 200 projects focused on diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and care.
To mark World Diabetes Day, we spoke with WDF's Head of Policy and Programmes, about a health promotion approach for diabetes prevention
Digital health insights at the Global Digital Health Forum
At the Global Digital Health Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, we joined two panels; the first panel was moderated by the World Bank on team-based approach, addressing health challenges and appreciating best practices for digital health systems at community level. We showcased our Diabetes Compass digital health solution and joined a vital discussion on integrated care. The second panel on "FHIR Data Analytics in Practice" shed light on the importance of standardised global reference solutions to prevent the fragmentation of national health ecosystems, recognising opportunities and challenges related to implementation. As the area of digital health matures in low-resource countries, interoperability is crucial, and WDF's contributions can positively impact the quality and interoperability of NCD data.
WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health
WDF attended the 5th WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health in Bogotá, Colombia – a platform to discuss and share experiences on advancing universal health coverage for refugees and migrants. The event highlighted the severe burden of NCDs in refugee and migrant populations, the essential role of primary health care, and the need for paradigm shifts towards inclusive, equitable and sustainable healthcare financing. Further, the bridging of research-policy gaps and the elements for building resilient health systems were debated; all aimed at safeguarding migrants' and refugees' health and ensuring equal access to quality care for all.
Key visit to Madagascar
Our December visit to Madagascar allowed us to appreciate the impactful work of the Association Malgache contre le Diabète (AMADIA), our partner in the WDF15-1321 project. This patient association, with around 57,000 members, significantly improves diabetes care across Madagascar through its clinics and regional outposts. Their collaboration with the Ministry of Health extends from regulatory framework support to facilitating the activity of health caravans in local communities. These caravans, although not part of the project, are well-attended and provide a great framework for AMADIA to raise awareness, screen, diagnose and refer people to diabetes clinics.
We look forward to many more accomplishments in the years to come!
The World Diabetes Foundation team