From commitments
to African-led action.
Join national alliances, civil society, young leaders, people living with NCDs and partners to shape Africa’s next chapter of NCD advocacy.
Registration fee: USD 150
Registration deadline extended to 14 November 2026.
The convening is organised by the Africa NCDs Network (ANN) and NCD Alliance East Africa (EANCDA), in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the Ethiopian NCD Alliance Consortium, and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, as part of the Global NCD Relay, convened by the NCD Alliance, with the support of its strategic partners.
The NCD Relay in Africa is supported by the NCD Relay’s global strategic partners: the Global Alliance for Patient Access (GAfPA), the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The World Diabetes Foundation supports the event as an Africa Convening Strategic Partner.
Additional support comes from NCD Relay Sponsors NCDI Poverty Network and Paolo Chiesi Foundation, and Travel Partner, Ethiopian Airlines.
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 Alliance Forum. A key outcome will be the Addis NCD Relay Declaration, setting out shared African advocacy priorities and collective commitments.
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
Connecting people.
Carrying the Relay.
Shared stories, creative contributions and the passing of the baton connect the Relay’s regional journey.
Organizers, collaborators
and partners.
Organizers
Collaborators
Global Convenor
Strategic Partners
Relay Sponsors
Travel Partner
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 150 payment route or enter an approved ANN waiver or sponsorship coupon.
How to register
1. Enter your details.
Complete the online registration form for each participant. Use an accurate email address to receive your registration status and ANN’s decision.
2. Choose your fee route.
Select the USD 150 self-sponsored option or enter an official ANN waiver / promo code. A valid discount code adjusts the fee; a full waiver removes the payment requirement.
3. Complete payment, if required.
Follow the secure online payment instructions. If bank transfer is available, select it to receive a payment order by email and include your registration reference with the transfer. ANN must verify bank payments.
4. Await ANN confirmation.
Payment verification and organiser approval are separate. ANN reviews registrations and emails its decision. Keep your private status link; submission, payment or a waiver alone does not confirm a place.
Have a registration coupon?
In the registration form, select “I have an official ANN waiver / promo code” and enter the code supplied by ANN. The form checks the code’s validity, any email restriction, expiry and available uses. A partial discount leaves a balance to pay; a full waiver requires no card payment.
A coupon covers the registration fee only unless additional support is separately confirmed in writing.
Complete your registration
Register by 14 November 2026 for the convening on 21–22 November 2026 in Addis Ababa. Registrations are subject to organiser review, available capacity and balanced representation.
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?
You receive a registration acknowledgement by email. Payment verification and organiser approval are separate. ANN emails its review decision, and you can check your private registration status link. Do not pay again while a payment is being verified.
What happens if my coupon is invalid?
The form will ask you to correct an invalid or unavailable code. Check the spelling and any email restriction, or contact the ANN Secretariat before paying if you were promised a waiver. Do not make a second payment to resolve a code issue.
Are flights and hotels included in the USD 150 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 online registration form asks whether you need a visa support letter, accommodation information, dietary arrangements, accessibility adjustments or interpretation. If you request a visa letter, provide your name exactly as it appears on your passport. Do not upload passport scans or medical diagnoses.