From commitments
to African-led action.
Sovereignty and Resilience.
Join national alliances, civil society, young leaders, people living with NCDs and partners to shape Africa’s next chapter of NCD advocacy.
Convened by ANN and East Africa NCD Alliance, with the Ethiopian NCD Alliance, Africa CDC and partners, alongside CPHIA 2026.
A stronger voice.
A shared direction.
The first African NCD Relay convening brings civil society and partners together to translate the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting and continental commitments into coordinated advocacy and action.
Build capacity, strengthen partnerships and contribute to a regional advocacy roadmap connecting African priorities to the 2028 Global NCD Forum.
Our thematic priorities
- Sustainable financing for NCDs
- Prevention and control policies and advocacy
- Integration into primary health care
- Universal health coverage
- Accountability, governance and civil society coordination
Voices, stories
and shared commitments.
The Relay connects regional journeys on the road to the 2028 Global NCD Alliance Forum. Each region adds its priorities, lived experiences and commitments to a growing advocacy story.
The visual guide proposes a collective quilt and an advocacy vessel as symbols of that journey. Regions can interpret these ideas in ways that reflect their own cultures and communities.
These are proposed creative concepts. The Africa convening’s final ceremony and physical symbols remain to be confirmed.
Two days of dialogue.
A shared agenda for action.
Explore the proposed sessions for 21–22 November 2026. This is a draft programme; timings and participation remain subject to confirmation.
Define Africa’s advocacy priorities
Post-HLM4 context, regional policy momentum, advocacy breakouts and declaration drafting.
View the day’s schedule ↓DAY 2 · 22 NOVEMBERTurn priorities into coordinated action
Health architecture reform, practical advocacy workshops, declaration validation and the Relay handover.
View the day’s schedule ↓Saturday, 21 November 2026
08:30–09:00Registration, Exhibition Opening and Informal Networking
Welcome participants, open partner booths, and create space for informal introductions
09:00–10:00Official Opening Ceremony: African Civil Society Leadership for the NCD Relay
Frame the convening, affirm political and civil society commitment, and situate the meeting within the NCD Relay 2026–2028
Speakers in protocol order, 5 minutes each; the host minister opens the convening last
10:00–10:30Keynote: From HLM4 to African Action on NCDs and Mental Health
Set out what the 2025 HLM4 Political Declaration (adopted December 2025) means for Africa: the 2030 targets on tobacco, hypertension and mental health, the expanded scope including mental health and air pollution, and the implications for advocacy, accountability, financing, implementation and equity
11:00–12:45Plenary 1: Africa’s NCD and Mental Health Burden, Health Sovereignty, Security and Regional Policy Momentum
Present Africa’s NCDI and mental health burden, including sickle cell disease, rheumatic heart disease, type 1 diabetes, and childhood and cervical cancers.
Review lessons from the Africa CDC NCDI/MH Strategy 2022–2026 and present the new NCD response strategy of the AU in line with Agenda 2063, the AU Common Position Paper and the new Public Health Order; The successor strategy and set out civil society asks for its successor strategy (2027+)
Format: 2 presentations (15 min each), reaction panel (40 min), Q&A (35 min)
13:45–15:30Breakout Session: Defining Africa-Specific Advocacy Priorities
Each group agrees on three priority asks, the target institutions and a timeline, using a common template
- Health taxes and innovative domestic financing (WHO “3 by 35”)
- PHC and UHC: Integrated NCD services, including integration with HIV/TB/MNCH platforms
- Multisectoral action and commercial determinants of health (tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy food, physical inactivity, air pollution)
- Access to essential medicines and technologies (incl. insulin and diagnostics) and local manufacturing
- Mental health and Africa’s neglected NCDIs (sickle cell disease, RHD, type 1 diabetes, Hypothyroidism, childhood and cervical cancer)
- Surveillance, data and accountability for HLM4 commitments (e.g. SPARK programme, STEPwise surveys)
15:45–16:45Plenary: Report Back and Synthesis
Each group reports its three priority tasks (6 min per group); open discussion (15 min); synthesis of top continental priorities. Outputs handed to the Declaration Drafting Committee
17:00–18:15Closed Civil Society Session: Coalition Governance, Coordination and Working Groups
Agree coordination mechanisms for ANN, EANCDA, national alliances, youth, and PLWNCD constituencies; discuss sub-regional leadership and post-convening working groups for each sub-region
18:15–19:30Declaration Drafting Committee (closed working session)
Integrate Day 1 priorities into the zero draft of the Addis NCD Relay Declaration, ready for validation on Day 2
Sunday, 22 November 2026
08:30–09:00Recap of Day 1
Key highlights and the emerging continental priorities
09:00–10:30Plenary 2: Africa’s NCD Agenda within Global Health Architecture Reform
- Presentation (15 min): Overview of global health architecture reforms: Lusaka Agenda, Accra Reset, Africa’s health financing and sovereignty agenda, and donor transitions since 2025
- Institutional panel (40 min): How NCDs fit into reform: integration into HIV/TB/MNCH and PHC platforms, the Abuja Declaration (15%) benchmark, and domestic resource mobilisation
11:00–12:45Capacity-Building Workshops: Turning Priorities into Advocacy Action
Participants pre-assigned by role; all materials shared afterwards
- Advocating for NCD budgets and health taxes with Ministries of Finance and Parliaments
- Accountability: Tracking HLM4 commitments, scorecards, civil society shadow reporting and other advocacy tools
- Strategic communications and media engagement
- Coalition mobilisation and management
13:45–15:00Plenary 3: Validating the Addis NCD Relay Declaration
Drafting Committee presents the draft Declaration; structured comments by constituency (PLWNCD, youth, sub-regions, partners); agreement on the final text and signatories
15:00–15:40Partners’ Commitments Panel: Carrying the Relay 2026–2028
Each strategic partner states one concrete commitment to the Relay and its advocacy priorities (financing, technical support, platforms or convening)
16:00–17:00Closing Ceremony: Declaration, Next Steps and Baton Handover to the Next Continent/Press Conference/Interviews
Summarise outcomes; read the validated Addis NCD Relay Declaration and hand it to stakeholders; outline the dissemination roadmap; hand over the Relay Baton to the next continent; formally close the convening
Register for the convening.
One form per participant. Choose the USD 200 payment route or enter an approved ANN waiver or sponsorship coupon.
How to register
1. Enter your details.
Complete one Google registration form per participant and provide an accurate email address.
2. Choose your fee route.
Pay USD 200 through the official ANN checkout, or use an ANN-issued waiver or sponsorship coupon.
3. Submit your reference or coupon.
Paid participants enter their transaction reference. Coupon holders enter their code and submit without paying.
4. Await ANN confirmation.
ANN verifies the payment or coupon and sends a separate registration confirmation. Submission alone does not confirm a place.
Have a registration coupon?
In the Google Form, choose “Use an ANN waiver / sponsorship coupon” and enter the code supplied by ANN. Coupons are checked after submission for authorization, email match, expiry and available uses.
A coupon covers the registration fee only unless additional support is separately confirmed in writing.
Registration link coming soon
ANN will add the official registration link here once registration opens. Venue information, recommended hotels and transport schedules will follow.
Your questions, answered.
Who should attend?
National and sub-regional NCD alliances, civil society organizations, youth advocates, people living with NCDs, policymakers, researchers, technical agencies and partners committed to African-led NCD action.
Does an alliance nomination complete my registration?
No. Nomination, sponsorship authorization and registration are separate steps. If ANN approves registration support, use the coupon provided by the Secretariat in the registration form.
How will I know my registration is confirmed?
Form submission acknowledges your request. ANN checks payment or coupon authorization and sends a separate confirmation. Do not pay again while a transaction is under review.
What happens if my coupon is invalid?
Your submission remains pending while ANN checks the issue. Contact the Secretariat to correct the code or clarify your sponsorship before making a payment.
Are flights and hotels included in the USD 200 fee?
No. Participants cover flights, lodging and incidental costs unless separate written sponsorship says otherwise. ANN and partners arrange transport between the venue and recommended hotels.
Can I request an invitation letter or accessibility arrangements?
The Google Form includes an invitation-letter request and an optional field for practical accessibility or dietary requirements. Please do not submit passport scans or medical diagnoses through the registration form.